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sidecharactersdomatter · 9 months ago

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Thoughts I had during TGCF Season 1 the Recap!

Basically, I recap the First Season of TGCF with my reactions, before my Season 2 binge watch!

Ep 1

-Don’t go out there… don’t go out there… don’t go out there… don’t go out there… *Bride gets snatched* Okay, maybe you should’ve gone out there.

-Right after XL ascends, Lan Hai and Qing Tao then go, “Huh, Who is that?” Then everybody yells at them, “PRINCE XIE LIAN!”

-So much Property Damage…

-Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!

-Fu Yao, *Is sarcastic and rolls his eyes* Basically me: He’s just like me fr!!!

-Hehehehehehe Dick joke XD

-Sees Bride!XL: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I’m Sorry XD!

-Yeah right a few alterations, she totally fixed his make up calling it.

-*Sees Bridesmaids NF and FY like* W H E E E Z E XD XD XD XD

-So that’s how he was able to last longer than the previous bride

-Pass me the Aux cord! You better not be playing mainstream garbage! *Turns on One Flower and One Sword and vibes like there’s no tomorrow*!

-I now pronounce you both husband and husband! You may now kiss the gro- I mean, bride!

Ep 2

-Honey, He looks a little too good looking to be the Ghost groom

-That temple looks abandoned, and the animation camera for walking inside

-There’s the ugly mob

-Hehe Xie Lian’s aggressive kindness

-When the mob scooched away from Bride!Lian I freaking lost it XDXDXDXD

-And Nan Feng and Fu Yao inch away instead of defending him!

W H E E Z E!

-The fact they both agreed to not explain anything XD!

-Xiao Ying is a real friend

-And hurting the injured is a real low for the mob

-They have enraged the ghost groom

-KO! Flawless victory!

-Zombie brides!

Ep 3

-Didn’t know it a zombie apocalypse happened in Ancient Feudal China (I need to brush up on my history)

-Welp, now they’re grateful

-Wait a minute, he was an acrobat??? Xie Lian Pre 3 ascension life spinoff when??? (That’ll prolly never happen)

-Man here comes the Bride Pun count: 3

-Now that is an Azula level breakdown

-They are not merciful with the body count in this whole series

-Woah saved by literal divine intervention

-Geez, Pei Ming this is why we don’t Ghost our Exes, Pun Count: 4

-Man, Xuan Ji, maybe you should’ve heard of the phrase, “Plenty of Fish in the sea”

-The way Xie Lian blinked when he realized he was still in the wedding dress XD!

-Restoring faith in Ming Guang

-Oh no Trauma

Ep 4

-He’s so distraught he couldn’t follow

-The telepathic matrix, is basically the world’s first discord server

-Thank you Ling Wen

-Aw he likes Hua Cheng’s name!

-That explains the fall of Xianle and the Moldy Face Plague

-Let’s be honest, Bai Wuxiang is totally responsible for Covid-19

-Woah Hua Cheng has made his mark on Heaven

-Aww he thinks the Butterflies are beautiful!

-Honestly, smart move Mu Qing and Feng Xin

-Oh she is so burnt out

-Yeah, who was the Prince of Xianle anyway?

-WHY IS EVERYBODY’S EYELINER GAME SO ON POINT?!?!?!?!

Ep 5

-The way he blew off that maple leaf

-Oooh that subtle hinting later on and symbolism with Xie Lian

-The way he moved in closer *fangirls like no tomorrow*

-I freaking love the instrumental version of Hong Jue

-Is he touched starved? He is touch starved

-I love that when San Lang scared the Ghosts shitless they ended up running like no tomorrow, Ghost 1: Book it guys our lives depend on it! Ghost 2: But we’re already dead! Ghost 1: Well it’s just an expression!

-And there was only one bed. Oh my gods there was only one bed!!!

-Aw he caught him staring

-I believe you Ox cart man

-Heck with how popular TGCF is right now, Xie Lian would be worshipped today by fans like us

-His luck did rub off on you and you should take it all Xie Lian

-Welp time to go start the next arc

Ep 6

-Woah, that old man is traumatized

-Of course being a martial god, he has experience in combat. Have you seen him in a sword dual at Yinian bridge? (Subtle Phineas and Ferb quote)

-Yep called it, and the gong noise when the door opened!

-“How did we get out here in the middle of the ocean???”

-Awww look at San Lang’s emo hoodie!

-You know what’s better than one evil Daoist? Two evil Daoists!

-And he drank the whole thing like a boss

-Now Nan Feng’s acting like an NPC from a fantasy video game

-The woman in the teal cloak saw him

-He’s touched starved again!

-Best chemistry ever!

-And after Rouye grabs San Lang and Xie Lian says, “I didn’t mean San Lang”. Rouye goes: “Really? Ok!” And then lets him go, that’s just the hypothetical dialogue I’ve got for the silk band

Ep 7

-It’s official! Xie Lian is shorter than San Lang people!

-I’ve heard of a close knit unit but this is just insane!

-There’s so many people

-Ooooohhh That poor poor general

-SO MANY COBRAS!

-Oh no and 4’s an unlucky number in China

-He is sucking the venom out like a G! Get yourself a man like San Lang people!

-You know we’re all thinking what Xie Lian’s thinking about how he’s going to clean San Lang’s bloodied lips (I’ll let you share your answers in the comment section)

-And Fu Yao’s stuck with merchant sitting

-Really lovely desert travel music!

-Yeah he does know an awful lot

-Uh oh the woman in the black cloak spotted them

Ep 8

-Thank you San Lang for protecting your man like a champ!

-Ooooh cool more Ban Yue lore!

-Ooooh his poor, poor head

-And San Lang’s expression, is worried if he hurt him, but it worked!

-Yeah but our faces don’t stick out of the ground like a fresh tater!

-Aw no they’re gonna need sacrifices

-Zhao’s fight response kicked in

-Eeenie meanie meinie that kid (probably Kemo)

-“Sully not thine honor on innocent blood” That almost sounded like a bible quote…?

-Dude Xie Lian was royalty

-Trust fall! (You’ll see next ep peeps!)

-Oh and Xie Lian’s scream! Kind of needed more raw emotion though

Ep 9

-He’s gonna jump into the pit, he’s jumping into the pit, he jumped into the

-Xie Lian’s like: Well I am going down there, but I won’t go down alone!

-The pit’s entrance is sealed!

-Trust fall! TRUST FALL!

-He touched his throat!

-There’s your answer Xie Lian

-Dance fight! Dance fight!

-You’re just gonna excuse the mass murder San Lang committed in the pit?????

-Let me just find somewhere that isn’t covered in blood

-Oh yeah you’re grateful for San Lang carrying you

-The faces they made when he called them out for jumping into the pit XD Xie Lian’s eyes are wide and blank while San Lan has a cat face! XDXDXDXDXD

-She came down!

Ep 10

-She saw Xie Lian and San Lang

-So many fallen Ban Yue soldiers

-Hi Fu Yao

-I wasn’t kidding when I said Fu Yao isn’t great at crowd control

-Thank you Fu Yao

-She’s holding his hand and he’s patting her head my freaking heart!!!!

-Oh No! Vomit trigger warning for this episode people

-Xie Lian raised her more than her Yong’An father did (and to some extent her late mother)

-It was still a good choice after all Xie Lian

-Take it easy with the ‘Bad Cop’ routine Fu Yao

-Oh no a scorpion snake

-Well that’s bad

Ep 11

-Aiaigasa! It’s Aiaigasa again folks AAAAAHHH!!!!

-Scorpion tailed cobras why’d they have to be Scorpion tailed Cobras?!?!?!?!?

-That explains the sandstorm

-Ooooh Pei Xiu army backstory

-Ugh Classist general

-No Ban Yue!!!! She was so young!!! T - T

-Yeah where will Xie Lian go from here?

-Oooh Yizhen got name dropped too!

-Uncle Jiang is cured!

-And the way he’s running away from the duo XDXDXD!

-Here’s why Fu Yao left early, as they healed Uncle Jiang he contacted Nan Feng through the telepathic array and Fu Yao’s reason is: Come on, you know how horrifying his highness’ cooking can be. This is just my theory, and I’d love to hear your possible ones in the comments!

-And the way Hua Cheng moved in closer and just preferred to be called ‘San Lang’ my freaking heart!!!

Ep 12

-We are back in Puqi village folks

-I freaking love how Xie Lian says ‘The Crimson Rain Sought Flower’ Howard Wang’s voice could act as my new sleeping aid

-Oh yeah San Lang does treasure you dude

-Ban Yue deserves all the head pats!!!!

-Ban Yue, I think you should keep living despite all the mistakes you’ve made… other than that I also don’t know the answer like Xie Lian

-Aww Xie Lian will love him no matter if he’s hideous or a monster he really does have the best standards!

-Awwww He’s hot when he’s mad!

-Another Reason why Hualian works so well is that San Lang also Respects! Xie Lian’s! Boundaries! (Yep still not getting involved with the Helluva Boss drama folks)

-It’s official! That looks like an engagement ring people!

-Dude pass me the Aux cord! Ya better not be playing mainstream garbage *Puts on Hong Jue at full blast and vibes like no tomorrow!*

-It’s like they’re running towards each other AAAAAHHH!!!

-Welp, see you guys later for Season 2!

Season 2! Here I come!!!!

#my post #My reaction #episode reaction #heaven official's blessing #tian guan ci fu #tgcf #season recap #Tgcf season 1 #xie lian #hua cheng #san lang #hualian #nan feng #fu yao #pei xiu #ban yue #ling wen

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flowersdiceandlove · 7 months ago

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Last night I wasn’t feeling good, so my mom—my wonderful, amazing mom who I love and am so lucky to have—offered to read some of Heaven Official’s Blessing to me. I’d just finished book 6 and hadn’t started 7, so she read the first chapter of book 7 to me. She has fun doing it. She reread about the first half of book 1 and a chapter here and there in the others volumes in the past, so this wasn’t the first time she’s done this. She’s unused to the Chinese names, and so I have to remind her who the characters are. Here is an incomplete list of how I remind her of the characters.

Xie Lian = the main character (luckily she knows this one by now)

Hua Cheng = the love interest (she got him mixed up with mu qing last night for some reason. Normally I don’t have to remind her)

Mu Qing = the sarcastic/condescending one

Feng Xin = the angry one

Pei Ming = he’s flirtatious (and with only that two word explanation of him, she read his line perfectly. Exactly how I imagined it)

When Fu Yao and Nan Feng were in it, I used Mu Qing and Feng Xin’s explanations respectively.

She messes up the pronunciation, but has finally remembered (at least most of the time) that “x” makes a “sh” sound and “q” a “tch” sound. She also has endless trouble with the gege = guh guh wanting to pronounce it jee jee. She also often says Xian Lian instead of Xie Lian and just can’t quite get Hua Cheng right. She really is trying though.

Also, also when it was revealed what the “giant” in the Kiln was, she was so shocked and her expression alone caused me to laugh for several minutes.

And, before you ask, yes, she likes HuaLian.

Two more things. 1) she absolutely loves the tremendous masculinity/Ju Yang euphemism, and it has become something I bring up to make her laugh. 2) she always forgets the word “fuck” is used in the books. Every. Single. Time. No matter how many times she reads it.

This post has not been intended as a roast to my mom. She’s amazing , and I love it when she reads this to me. It’s a little way we can spend time together and she can enjoy my interests with me. If anything this is me bragging about her awesomeness, sprinkled with comedy. Anyway, wish my mom luck on learning those Chinese names. They really are hard for her to learn. 😬🫤

#tgcf #heaven official's blessing #tian guan ci fu #hua cheng #xie lian #hualian #feng xin #mu qing #pei ming #reading tgcf

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beautifulsnake2162020 · 2 months ago

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We have it all (Hualian adopted daughter fanfic) Chapter 4

Gif by shiruba-tsuki

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. I only do this for fun.

Premise: Not long after comforting a bullied girl named Meng Ai, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian find themselves adopting her and together they form a family they didn't know they had needed for awhile.

Story/Genre tags: Slice of life-ish (mainly), Family focused, Hua Cheng's houses finally become homes, there may be an overarching story but that's not the focus, Hualian being parents, Fengqing being uncles, Lang Qianqiu falling in love with someone who was raised by the Xianle squad, technically post-canon (though I haven't read the books so if there are some ooc moments please forgive me).

AO3 Link

Chapter 1, Chapter 2 , Chapter 3

Follower tags: @anonimgato1507

CW: If you are sensitive to things involving blood (it will just be discussed not shown), self-harm or self-harm adjacent things (discussed not shown) and potentially the dark side of things please proceed with caution.

Chapter 4

"Aiai, have you finished your dinner?"

"Yes mama."

"Okay, wash-up and prepare for bed."

"But mama it is still early. The sun just went down." Meng Ai whined as she helped clean the dishes.

"If you wash-up early I'll give you something."

"Oh what is it?"

"Wash-up first." Meng Ai knew that tone well enough to know that her mother did not allow any disobedience from her right now. There must be something happening tonight that she's not allowed to know about if she's being made to go to bed early.

And it must be so terrible that even her mother is scared.

She's a good girl, she doesn't want to cause her anymore pain. It's why she never told her or her father about the bullying children. She pretends not to know that they are worried about something. Something involving her going missing. She doesn't know what it is but ever since she met Hua Cheng and Xie Lian she wants to tell her that everything is going to be okay.

But she has something in her mind and has been watching the new soldiers put up protections around the shrine. So she'll just be a good girl and do as she says.

"Our soldiers have made preparations, they'll inform us when they arrive."

"I've also made a barrier around the shrine. So as long as you both stay inside you'll be fine."

"Thank you General Nan Yang and General Xuan Zhen. Have you two eaten dinner yet?"

"Oh we don't need to eat-"

"Meng Ai will wonder why you two haven't eaten yet but still have plenty of energy."

"Eh, she already knows we're not mortals." Mu Qing says non-chalantly.

"I insist Generals, think of it as my offering of gratitude to both of you. It will also save me time from repeating the story multiple times when the time we have is uncertain. Especially tonight."

"Hmm" Feng Xin takes one last look at the protections that they've placed and the positions of their soldiers.

"We've done all that we can. We're just waiting for them to show up."

"And if they show up while we are having dinner?"

"You know, our scouts are going to immediately run inside and get us. Might as well be comfortable while we still can."

"Excellent." Mu Qing follows the priestess inside. After taking one last look and running a few checks with his second-in-command Feng Xin follows them inside.

Thankfully, her cooking was a lot better than Xie Lian's.

"Hmm, maybe I should convince her to be in charge of cooking for Dianxie's temple."

"You'll have to ask permission from Xiwangmu."

"And?"

"You really are an idiot if you think Xiwangmu is going to give one of her oracles to you just because you like her cooking."

"I could use an oracle. None of my followers have that gift."

"You're supposed to give it to them you bone-head. But maybe that's all for the best since they all think the only gift you're capable of giving is D-"

"DON'T. Not now."

Mu Qing couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny Fu Yao?" Meng Ai asks as her mother helps settle her in the bed.

"I'm just reminded of a mistake with massive consequences involving Nan Feng's God, Nan Yang."

"You don't have to tell her that!"

"Huh?"

"You'll find out when you're older Aiai." She herself chuckles a bit as she makes sure that Meng Ai is settled in the bed before she goes back to the kitchen area and returns with two dishes.

"Aiai asked me to ask you two which among these is the best flavor for her birthday moon cake."

"Because I can only have one flavor each year!"

"She couldn't decide between Lotus Paste and Red Bean filling. So I made a few experiments. This dish-" she puts it on the table between them.

"Has three with Lotus Paste and Three with Red Bean filling. And this dish -" She places the second dish beside the first, this time closer to Feng Xin.

"Has variations of both. Two of them with exactly half of each, Two of them with more Lotus and a touch of the red bean, and the last two are more of the red bean paste and a touch of the lotus paste."

"Can't we have all three?"

"You can't have three birthdays in one year Aiai."

"Please."

"You can get the other two if you can buy the ingredients with your own money."

"Aw." Her frustrated expression was so endearing that it made both generals laugh.

"Don't worry Meng Ai, we'll take this decision very seriously." Feng Xin says as he takes a large bite out of a red bean filled moon cake.

"We better be invited to the party."

"Of course you are Fu Yao. Both of you, and Hua Cheng and Xie Lian."

"Speaking of birthdays, here is one of your first presents." Meng Ai is given a book to her delight.

"Is this a new story mama?"

"Yes, a rare new story. Would you like me to read it to you?"

"Yes please."

______________________________________________________________

"Don't worry your Holiness, I made sure to make a few detours before going to the temple."

"Thank you Meng Zhiyuan, while we serve the Goddess who has power over life and death, I'm afraid we will need the assistance and protection of a nearby martial God if anything should happen."

Those were the last couple of things Xie Lian and Hua Cheng heard before the priest exits from a private dining area. He bows before both of them as he makes his leave.

"Good evening, Ji Huifan." He looks up at them as he hears Hua Cheng call him by the name he had thought long dead. But here on front of him was the couple the Great Mother had showed to be the best option to raise and protect Meng Ai. He just needed to do his best to convince them.

Meng Ai was innocent of the crimes he and his family had done. His sins should not deprive her of the chance to live.

"There's no need to be nervous Ji Huifan. We just want to know a few things." Xie Lian says in a calming voice.

"Of course, what would you like to know?"

"Start from the beginning." Hua Cheng says firmly.

______________________________________________________________

"Long ago, there was a beautiful Goddess named Chenxi, who loved dwelling in a place where many cultures met. She was a scholar with a natural curiosity to know more about the world beyond the lands she and her family were worshipped in. For it is well known that Gods cannot go into lands where they are neither worshipped or known."

"Why mama?"

"Gods need worshippers for them to dwell anywhere. And if they cannot have worshippers, they must at least be known by people to still have power. It is why whenever a new temple is built dedicated to a God, that God is happy."

"Oh."

"Chenxi loved meeting new Gods from other cultures. This place was the further most spot she could dwell in without depriving herself of the power of her worshippers or scholars. One day, a bright mortal man named Hou Lijie entered into her city as a scholar, and the two fell in love. But Chenxi's heart was heavy for she was born as a Goddess, and the love between a Goddess and a mortal almost always do not end well."

"Why?"

"Because the mortal almost always dies first."

"Oh." Her mother gives her a sympathetic smile.

"It's perfectly fine if you don't understand it now. Sometimes things only get clearer the older we get." In her periphery she could see that the two Generals were also paying close attention as they were snacking on the mooncakes she gave them.

"For their love to bear fruit, either they must both be mortal or both must be immortal. Chenxi asked her parents if she could give Hou Lijie a peach of immortality, for it is easier to make her beloved immortal than to make herself mortal."

"I thought the opposite would be easier."

"Aiai, the mortality that Chenxi must face isn't in the form of an avatar but her entire being. To become mortal is to enter the uncertainty of the cyle of Life, Death, and Rebirth. Chenxi cannot choose what face she will have, what body she will inhabit, or even where she will be born. And Hou Lijie loved her for who she was and she didn't want to change that."

"Hmm so what happened?" Feng Xin asks now curious and intrigued.

"Her parents refused, but Chenxi loved Hou Lijie so much that she snuck inside the orchard of her parents and gathered several peaches that granted immortality. She knew that Hou Lijie loved his family and would be upset if he were to leave them. She came to dwell in his home bearing the peaches, only to discover that her beloved had already passed. She realized then that the reason why her parents did not want to give her the peaches was because Hou Lijie was already dead. His family gathered because they were grieving. And then she realized her mistake as the family of her beloved surrounded and trapped her."

______________________________________________________________

"After they trapped her, in their grief of not wanting to lose anyone else, they gobbled up the peaches of immortality amongst themselves. But they didn't realize that it is only because of Chenxi's love for Hou Lijie that the peaches still had their power in a place where their power as Gods are not as potent. Chenxi's love was a spell on her own, and the moment she became frightened and trapped by that family, the power of the peaches was darkened."

"Darkened how?" Xie Lian asks as he took mental notes of the story.

"The peaches will still give them immortality, that is not something Chenxi could change. Normally when a peach of immortality is fed on whomever consumes it will become ethereal and more enlightened. But in this case, the family members who have eaten the peaches...while they are still immortal the curse is that only the life of anyone frightened, or in pain will satisfy them. But even then, that satisfaction will not last long and it only leads to more suffering. I...I think I don't need to say out loud what my family used to do."

Seeing that Hua Cheng and Xie Lian nodded he gathered himself for a bit to continue. He may not be able to read their expressions but no matter what they think of him he just needs to keep reminding himself that this was for his daughter.

"One of my relatives soon realized that we cannot continue to live in a place wherein our cursed immortality was present to anyone who was smart enough. So as we continued these blood rituals to keep our temporary satisfaction, we worked extremely hard to make Fu Dao into a prosperous kingdom. A kingdom's royal family doesn't need to make frequent public appearances, and only those we most trusted would know our secret. It would be easy enough to be isolated from everyone else and to hide that another effect of the curse is that all members who have partaken in it will be infertile."

"Let me guess, because when you're mortal in order to continue being on this earth you need to reproduce to pass on the family line."

"And that is no longer necessary or a concern when you are immortal. Is that right?"

"Yes, Xie Lian, you both are. I've never really liked consuming blood and when I was grown enough I endeavored to study magic of various kinds to try to find a cure for our suffering. I got tired of everyone of us taking turns to rule the Kingdom when all I wanted was to be free from our suffering."

"May I ask Ji Huifan, how did you manage to keep up appearances for so long?" Xie Lian in curiosity.

"We still continue to age - why we do I don't fully understand, but at some point those who appear elderly will take three times the amount of our regular consumption and they would be rejuvenated back into their forms as children. That's how we kept the public thinking that there were different generations ruling in our family."

"I see, but then how were you able to have a daughter?"

"I fell in love. Jing Mei was the first person who loves all parts of me and is stubborn enough to join me in my quest to find a way to remove this curse. Since she was an adept at the time she arranged for my family and I to consult an oracle asking for the cure to our suffering."

_____________________________________________________________

"What did the oracle say?" Mu Qing asks finding himself intrigued by the story. He and Feng Xin had since moved their stools closer to Jing Mei and Meng Ai. Meng Ai had since fallen asleep and Jing Mei had touched a pressure point to ensure that she would remain that way for awhile. This is the part of the story that she isn't ready to hear yet.

"Blood for blood, blood that you take will be cured by the blood that you give."

"Ominous."

"It is General Nan Yang. But I also don't blame my Goddess for giving that as a punishment. It is her daughter whom they have trapped, kept imprisoned, and tortured."

"Why didn't they just release her? They already had immortality although it is cursed." Mu Qing asks as he starts theorizing in his head. Jing Mei gives a sigh of frustration.

"I also don't know why. But after the oracle gave this answer things got worse for Chenxi. Bocheng, the patriarch of the family began interpreting it in a gruesome way. Before then, Chenxi was merely imprisoned and given the bare minimum to keep her satiated. Probably to make sure she isn't strong enough to give them another curse. After the oracle's answer to what would free them from their suffering, Bocheng began draining her of blood, feeding her blood to whomever the intended victims were before they were consumed in the family blood ritual. The worse part was because she is immortal, she too cannot be free from suffering and will carry this trauma for the rest of her immortal life."

"Fuck"

"I know. When I learned of this, I gave Ji Huifen, Meng Ai's father an ultimatum. He could continue to blindly join his family and the depraved acts they did; but in doing so I am going to completely cut ties with him and take the path of cultivation through abstinence. Or he could marry me under the blessings of Xiwangmu and get the freedom he had sought for."

There was a mutual relief shared in the telepathic bond as they both realized that Meng Ai's very existence was proof that her father had changed.

"But my Goddess loved me and did not make it easy for him. Before she allowed us to be married, she gave him two tasks. Cure himself of the curse, and free Chenxi. Obviously his grandfather's interpretation did not cure anything but merely made their relief last longer. He managed to free Chenxi and I personally nursed her back to health. In gratitude she clarified what her mother demanded from them to cure them from their suffering."

"Which was?"

______________________________________________________________

"An offering of my own blood. I won't tell you the details but Chenxi explained that by refusing to grieve we have tainted the nourishment of the peaches of immortality. It was why the more blood we consumed the shorter our relief lasted with each successive one. Had we dwelled with the discomfort of the loved one we all lost, had we learned to let go, the seemingly insatiable hunger for the lives of others while painful would also go away. But because a lot of the blood that now flows in our veins are from the blood of our victims, it is only cured by pouring them out." He takes a drink from his cup to refresh himself.

"And so I did, on front of Jing Mei, on front of all of Xiwangmu's priests and priestesses, and on front of Chenxi. They all witnessed both my blood and my grief finally pouring out." He doesn't need to see them to know that they are probably horrified. Hou Lijie while technically a cousin was more of a big brother and one of his best friends. When Hou Lijie fell in love with Chenxi he could now admit that he was jealous and didn't want to lose someone so dear to him.

Only for death to have claimed him first before Chenxi ever did.

And so he joined in the family in imprisoning and torturing her thinking that she was the cause of his death.

"The next time I woke up I no longer felt the underlying thirst to consume blood. And not long after Jing Mei and I were married with Chenxi present. I was excited to share the news with them, to tell them that I now understand the words of the oracle and that there was hope. Sure I was mortal again, but after centuries of being immortal and being satiated only with the thirst for blood drained when the victims were in fear and in pain...it was a relief that I had never thought possible. The opportunity came when it was time for another blood ritual to take place. What better time to tell them of the solution? Xiwangmu through her powers prevented me from being physically there. And it was on that night that I discovered that they had been spying on me but now they somehow believe that the cure for all of them would be to sacrifice Meng Ai, the first new life in our family in centuries. Under Xiwangmu's protection I tried to tell them and explain to them what the cure was. Then I was branded as a traitor. And so gathering everything I could, I took my family and fled from Fu Dao."

"You changed your name to Meng Zhiyuan to cover your tracks."

"More to extend my life by a little bit. When Meng Ai was born, Jiang Mei had a vision of the three of us dead. Or more specifically that she and I were dead and my grandfather personally skinning her and letting her blood pour out on Xiwangmu's altar. We panicked and Xiwangmu herself came into our dreams."

______________________________________________________________

"What did she say?"

"That as long as one parent is dead and one parent was alive, she would be safe from that cursed family." Jing Mei stood up and brushed a stray strand of hair that was covering Meng Ai's left eye. She presses a kiss to her forehead before she makes her way to her satchel.

"Chenxi knew us well enough that we wouldn't want Meng Ai to grow up with only one parent. And clarified that being a parent does not mean that there is necessarily a blood relation. So we began praying to her mother to help us find a loophole, even if it means we will only have her for the first few years of her life. Meng Ai deserves to live life to the fullest, and if it means that someone else will be her parents then so be it. After we've been fleeing from place to place Xiwangmu lead us to Hu village and told us that she has found a solution but nothing is certain yet. Then recently when Meng Ai went missing and we were worried. Xiwangmu then showed us that she was with Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. Then everything made sense."

From her bag she brings out two thicker books. And hands each one to each General.

"These copies contain the more extensive version of the story that Ji Huifen and I have personally written. I don't know how much time we have left with her - but when you feel that she is ready to know the actual story, have her read this."

"Two copies?" Feng Xin asks as Mu Qing carefully stores one magically.

"The other copy is for Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. Hopefully, if Ji Huifen is still alive, he would be able to convince them to take her in. The sooner she's with them, the safer she'll be."

"General Nan Yang." A soldier enters as Feng Xin stores the other copy magically.

"It's starting. They're using some sort of cloaking magic."

"We'll be there." He nods to Mu Qing as he makes his way out.

"Thank you again Jing Mei. Just stay inside and don't come out until we get both of you." It was obvious to him how much she and her husband loves Meng Ai. So much that they would sacrifice their life with her to ensure that she lived life to the fullest.

It reminded him of his own mother.

Filled with newfound determination he headed out and joined the ensuing battle.

AN: Wow consecutive chapters in one week! That's a personal record for me. I hope the dark subject matter and triggering potential elements weren't too painful.

Chenxi - Morning sunlight

Hou - Lord/Nobleman, Li Jie - To reason

Jing - Bright, Mei - flower (Confession: I just picked Mei because it was one of the more common female names)

Meng - Dream, Zhiyuan - Distant Ambition

#We have it all #Chapter 4 #Hualian #Hua Cheng x Xie lian #Xie Lian x Hua Cheng #Fengqing #Feng Xin #feng xin x mu qing #Mu qing #Hua Cheng #Xie Lian #tgcf #Heaven official's blessing #fanfiction #fanfic

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zombubble · 5 months ago

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From In Memory; In Truth chapter 10:

“You look like you have something else on your mind,” Xie Yuan says after a bit. “Mn. The divine statue.” “What, Feng Xin’s? Nan Yang’s?” Lan Zhan nods again. “What about it?” “Regarding its resemblance to the man I met…” Xie Yuan bursts into belly-aching laughter, carefree and joyful. For some reason this seems particularly amusing to him, enough so that he’s still laughing a bit later, when Sizhui runs back with Lan Zhan’s canteen. “Is he okay?” Sizhui asks. Lan Zhan raises one eyebrow—a sarcastic ‘I don’t know’ that brings a smile to Sizhui’s face. He shoos his son back over towards the other juniors, now moving along. There’s still some time until Xie Yuan stops, wiping his eyes. “Sorry, sorry,” he says, “I just—” He snorts. “Some statues are so terrible!” “Does it offend the gods when statues have little resemblance?” “Resemblance? Nah. We’ve gotten used to it. It’s not like most mortals who make the statues have actually seen our faces. Like… If I asked you to draw, say, Lan An. How close to resembling the actual man do you think you could get?” “Mn.” Lan Zhan concedes the point. “Most gods just don’t pay attention. Maybe rant about it a bit, but we don’t do anything about it.” He snickers again. “Mu Qi—Xuan Zhen, though… every time a new statue of him is being made he inspects it, and if it doesn’t look pretty enough he destroys it or goes into peoples’ dreams to yell at them about it.” Xie Yuan nods. “He’s got the most beautiful statues, on average, for that reason.” “And yourself?” Lan Zhan asks. Shrugging, Xie Yuan takes a breath, tilts his face into the sun. “It’s an honor to be worshiped by people. For them to believe in you, to trust you with their fate. To care enough to make a statue in your name. I won’t criticize my believers for not knowing my true face, nor for trying to make a statue beyond their skill. Everyone starts somewhere.” He opens one eye, peeking at Lan Zhan. “Though I can’t say I don’t prefer it if the statue is handsome.” The smile he flashes is dangerous—not in intent, but in what it does to Lan Zhan’s heart. “You have to promise me if you ever commission a statue, I don’t care if it looks like me, just don’t let them make me ugly.” “I see Xie-gongzi resembles Xuan Zhen in this respect.” Shocked, Xie Yuan looks at him. “You take that back!” he says. “I’m nothing like him! I have not rolled my eyes at you once, Lan Wangji.” “Mn.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Running ahead, Xie Yuan turns so he’s walking backwards directly in front of Lan Zhan. “Aiyah, how could you say such a thing? And to my face, no less? Have you no virtue? No sense of honor?” “Is comparison to such an esteemed god so offensive?” Lan Zhan asks. “You don’t know him! How dare you talk to me like this?” “This humble cultivator merely wished to honor your venerated self’s wishes,” Lan Zhan replies. Xie Yuan’s jaw drops. “You’re fucking with me,” he says. “Lan Wangji—Hanguang-jun, pride of Gusu-Lan, Second of the Twin Jades, Lan-er-gongzi himself—fucking with me!” Laughing, he spins around again, comes back to walk at Lan Zhan’s side. “Oh, you had me,” he says, wagging his finger at Lan Zhan. “You really did there, for a moment! Who knew such a schemer hid behind that pretty face of yours?” Xie Yuan thinks he’s pretty? Clearing his throat, Lan Zhan turns back to the road. “Statues cannot be commissioned for unknown gods,” he says. “Aiyah, I told you, I can’t tell you right now. Okay? You’ll have to trust me for a bit. But after all this is done,” he says, waving his hand at nothing, “I’ll come to you in a dream and tell you. I promise.” “Will I recognize you?” Lan Zhan asks. “No,” Xie Yuan replies. “Not by face, at least. I’ll make sure you know who I am though.” Grinning, he nudges Lan Zhan in the side. “Sneaky you, trying to figure out if I actually look like this.” Maybe a little.

It's a long one today, and one of my favorite early moments between them.... the flirting. Gods, the flirting.

I'm still making slow but steady progress on this chapter.

Maybe it's because I don't want the story to end... which is ridiculous because I still have to edit it and post it and everything so it's not like it's going to be over! But at the same time, it's over a year I've been writing this to begin with so finishing with the story's initial creation is still monumental...

Regardless, enjoy!

#c'est ma vie #my fic #fic: imit #ascension au #wip wednesday #lan wangji #wei wuxian #wangxian #mdzs #mxtx #mdzs fic #modao zushi

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raylin-creates · 1 year ago

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OK I watched the Heaven Official's Blessing donghua and started the novel. I didn't catch onto it in the show, but I am now absolutely certain that despite Fu Yao and Nan Feng claiming their generals dont know they're helping Xie Lian, those two generals who used to serve Xie Lian sent the deputy gods to him and are just too prideful to want to admit they still care about this dumbass lmao

The two generals (who's names I CANNOT for the life of me remember) just feel more like people who WISH they could hate Xie Lian for what happened in the past but know he's good at heart and also the type to get into SO much trouble without help that they can't help but do whatever they can to keep this guy alive and happy. But they can't ADMIT they want to help him so they both send a subordinate telling them to keep it a secret that they were sent by them.

And the deputy gods seen to have very similar personalities to their generals so seeing how they interact with Xie Lian I may be projecting their actions and feelings onto their generals a bit but I am certain that the two generals are secretly doing everything they can to help him without being obvious they're helping him.

I also thought at first that Xie Lian's debt was erased by Ling Wen fudging the numbers for him, but I now think the generals settled it themselves.

Xie Lian has more support in heaven than he thinks and I love it.

#heaven official's blessing #Raylin liveblogs tgcf #tgcf #xie lian #fu yao #nan feng #xuan zhen #nan yang #finally looked up their names lol

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pockettgcf · 14 days ago

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nyavember day 1

for day 1, we introduce the main clan. meet jadeclan! note for all content in nyavember - everyone gets warriorcat names! they'll be included in the allegiance lists, but not in any scenes or other descriptions. i apologize in advance if it makes some of the content confusing, but i hope the names are descriptive enough that you can still understand who's who :3

JadeClan are tasked with the care and protection of the Moon Jade, through which clan cats can communicate with StarClan. Although it is structured as any other clan, few cats are born into JadeClan. Almost all members come from other clans, earning the right to join such an auspicious group and represent their birth clan. Their territory spans the whole of the Central Forest, with the camp located at the foot of the Sacred Path leading up the mountain. Important landmarks include the Mating Tree, Ascension Peak, and the Jade Court.

Allegiances

Leader: Jadestar (Jun Wu) - large chimera tom with white and brown fur

Deputy: Goldtalon (Pei Ming) - an exceptionally handsome golden tabby tom (Apprentice, Lightpaw)

Medicine Cat: Veilpelt (Ling Wen) - blue-grey she-cat with dark marks under her eyes

Warriors:

Whiteblossom (Xie Lian) - long-furred brown point white tom with a white leash wrapped around his neck

Falconswoop (Feng Xin) - muscular brown tabby tom with a sandy patch on his right shoulder (Apprentice, Hawkpaw)

Thistlegaze (Mu Qing) - sleek silver-furred tom with one white sock (Apprentice, Nettlepaw)

Stormcry (Shi Wudu) - grey point tom with piercing blue eyes

Lotusbreeze (Shi Qingxuan) - grey point she-cat with pale green eyes

Blackwater (He Xuan) - slender black-furred tom with webbed paws

Tigerheart (Lang Qianqiu) - brown-furred tabby tom with particularly dark stripes

Sunstrike (Quan Yizhen) - brown tom with thick, curly fur and golden eyes

Apprentices

Lightpaw (Pei Xiu) - golden tabby tom

Hawkpaw (Nan Feng) - black-furred tom with a white mark on his chest

Nettlepaw (Fu Yao) - brown tabby tom with white paws

nyavember masterpost

#tgcf nyavember #tgcf #heaven official's blessing #starting off strong with some allegiances #im veeery excited for this au #i hope you guys enjoy this silly content!#im always taking suggestions and ideas too!!

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freewilllife · 10 months ago

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Fu Yao - Xie Lian - First Arc: Corpse Brides (II)

I. Meeting Fu Yao and Nan Feng

In the Little Shop of Chance Encounters Xie Lian met both Nan Feng and Fu Yao.

This is the first time Xie Lian met Mu Qing after 800 years personally.

Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing chose a place as far away as possible from each other.

And Mu Qing in the form of Fu Yao must have seemed "overly distant, and "cold" that made him look "extremely displeased."

However for Xie Lian neither of them seemed to be a person, he wanted to meet...("neither of them looked pleasant.")

-> Well of course...both Feng Xin and Mu Qing were displeased that the other seemed to have the same idea..

The Name Nan Feng is self-explanatory : It conists of one part of Feng Xin´s title and one part of his real name and Fu Yao : (扶摇, Fú Yáo – to take flight (one who is ambitious)

II. Xie Lians question: Are you willing to follow me?

Xie Lian even thought that they looked like they wanted to get his hea, since he assumed that Ling Wen had tricked them. Xie Lian thanked them and thought to himself that they had quite the attitude...as if they were pretty important figures in the Heavenly realm.

For Xie Lian it was quite horrifying that his former retainers sent help to him, since they thought that he has caused the damage to them deliberately.

Both Feng Xin and Mu Qing pretended as if their generals didn´t know, that they were coming.

Xie Lian then tried to make absolutely sure, if they knew whom they were going to help...

III. An allusion to a previous encounter

While Nan Feng gave a neutral reply, Fu Yao mocked him clearly.

-> Telling that to a person that was well-known for being the greatest laughingstock of the three realms...

However that is a clear reference to their past ...He said them himself bitterly, when he parted ways the first time with Xie Lian.

"Everyone has their own views; no one was born destined to be the rightheous path of the mortal realm, the centre of the world."

Now he told Xie Lian:

"You´re the justice of the Mortal Realm; the centre of the world."

And that was accompanied with an eye-roll.

Xie Lian´s Pov: Of course he could only take it that this person would mock him, even if he might have forgotten these words that were said nearly a millenium ago.

Mu Qing´s Pov: He was clearly interested in Xie Lian. It also appeared that he loved it that Xie Lian had now to accept his help and had no other offer (except Feng Xin...horrible guy, who had to come no matter what...). It was great for him, I guess, to see that the power had suddenly switched.

Another proof that Xie Lian kept himself well informed regarding his former two retainers...

Xie Lian´s pov: Xie Lian tried to make absolutely sure that he did not force the two people...For once he might be a person that learnt that it was not worth it, to keep people who were unwilling (His two retainers).

IV. Mu Qing making a point not to accept anything from Xie Lian

Another insult: He was not only not taking the tea, he was even cleaning his fingers as if he had touched something dirty.

V. Indirect criticism by Mu Qing

This question here also came across as another form of criticism, however Xie Lian even complimented him when answering his question.

Xie Lian´s pov: I guess he tried to live with this unfriendly attitude of Fu Yao and his advice was not wrong.

VI. Mu Qing is rolling his eyes to his heart´s content

After all Xie Lian was relieved...both of them seemed to work earnestly on this case...and seemed to have sufficient knowledge.

Both Nan Feng and Fu Yao seemed to be amused, when Xie Lian tried to go into the wilderness. Shortly after he realized that he could now use a temple of the two martial gods for the night.

When Xie Lian tried to thank the god of soil with his actions for the information, Fu Yao is rolling his eyes very hard, so that even Xie Lian had to comment it.

Mu Qing´s pov: I guess he hated that Xie Lian had to be especially kind and patience isn´t one of his strengths.

VII. New information: Everything of Mu Qing must be beautiful

This is unbelievable funny that Xie Lian is even aware of something like this...Mu Qing as a former servant now wishes that everything is noble, graceful and beautiful.

Fu Yao was also calling a believer of Feng Xin ugly.. Mu Qing would have thought the same...and Nan Feng had clearly a problem with women in itself...

VII. Pretense of a lack of compassion:

Fu Yao also seemed to be unconcerned that the girl might be embarassed with the tear in her skirt. Yet when Xie Lian gave her his outer robe, he was just as relieved as the other two.

VIII Turning point: Concern of Mu Qing - Xie Lian`s presentation of his "wounds"

This was not a question stated mockingly...Mu Qing really wanted to know the answer.

Xie Lian had to admit that he fell unluckily. He told them "blankly".

And then Fu Yao grumbled something...He was upset

Xie Lian´s pov: Xie Lian was very embarrased/ashamed to have to speak about his bad luck. Xie Lian interpreted Fu Yao´s reaction as further criticism regarding his person and did not want to know it...This is a habit he used in the past with Mu Qing as well...Xie Lian distanced himself here from Fu Yao.

Mu Qing´s pov: It is hard to say...but I would suspect that he was clearly concerned as Fu Yao has stated his criticism of Xie Lian very clearly and openly...but here...He does not say outright what upset him...He was most likely not happy that Xie Lian had such bad luck to hurt himself so horribly.

Cursed shackle

Both Nan Feng and Fu Yao have a strong reaction to Xie Lian having the "cursed shackle".

Xie Lian was metaphorically and literally undressing and presenting his two former retainers his wounds, shame and bad luck (And most likely he did not know yet that those two were his former subordinates).

Neither of them...not even Mu Qing tried to hurt him here...They are disturbed. Neither of them acted malicious.

Further concern of Mu Qing

Isn´t it funny that the one person who pretended to not be disturbed by something indecent, now seemed to have an issue with it as long as it concerned Xie Lian?

You can take this as concern or criticism...but let´s see it like this.

Xie Lian´s shame is so clear and out in the open that Mu Qing would have just needed to talk about this cursed shackle to shame Xie Lian completely...But he did not...He did not even want to mention it!

So I read this comment here as hidden concern as well.

IX. On the topic of Tremendous Masculinity

Mu Qing was enjoying himself here like a child, embarrassing Feng Xin at the same time. He was forgetting himself here clearly...

Spouting poetry in front of Feng Xin and Xie Lian, insulting the former and amusing Xie Lian as well.

Of course in order to get back to him Feng Xin threw at him a command "go sweep the floor" as Mu Qing is oversensitive regarding this issue.

It is interesting that Xie Lian cannot understand (or does refuse to understand), why Mu Qing who was a former servant would consider this fact embarrasing...when he knows that among the gods there are lots of generals and princes...

X. Mu Qing felt embarrased and took the next jab at Xie Lian

The situation being Xie Lian´s servant seemed to be the thing Mu Qing felt the greatest shame for...

That is the reason, why he shot Xie Lian a look before he attacked Feng Xin and Xie Lian as well.

He is embarrased, oversensitive.

Whatever he saw...Obviously he took it as Xie Lian making fun of him, so he also became aggressive one more time.

Even though the person in question - Xie Lian - did not appear to have wished to make fun of him at all. Another instant of clear miscommunication.

Xie Lian´s pov:

Xie Lian had another experience of a loss of power and control...He could not stop them before they seriously fought each other.

And the most funny thing...They were arguing about him

Mu Qing´s pov:

The same like Feng Xin. There seemed to be a lot of anger and hurt feelings between them..

But just as much...Mu Qing admitted that there were "injustices against him (Xie Lian)"...So there was also a massive guilt that played here a serious role that made both aggressive towards each other

Hilarious...their master sent both away, because he hated himself, but both beat each other up about who was worse? After 800 years...

This is one of his standard insults he will throw at Feng Xin. Implying...wasn´t he the most loyal bodyguard...why did he leave the master?...

XI. Concern as reason for a truce

This will be later also come into play...

They both work greatly together as long it was Xie Lian who was in danger...here he wanted to eat dirty food.

Xie Lian took the chance and separated both...reminding them that they generals wouldn´t approve of their behaviour...

XII. An instance of Mu Qing appearing pretty cold

XIII. Another instance of Mu Qing having to know everything better

XIII. Xie Lian praised both "Juniour Heavenly Officials" in front of Ling Wen - Mu Qing pretends to be in heaven

Mu Qing heard it as well and tried to distract them by appearing in the communication array.

Another instant of Xie Lian being annoyed with Mu Qing...showing clearly that Xie Lian was still upset with him...due to their past...or due to his earlier behaviour...is unfortunately unclear.

XIV. Another instant of Mu Qing appearing cold

Both propose Xie Lian as bride to be...

Another instant of unexpected worry for Xie Lian

XV. Xie Lian was enjoying himself a little

"No. It´s just...I suddenly realized that this wedding procession is missing something very important." "Missing what?" Nan Feng asked. "We´ve prepared all that we need." Xie Lian smiled. "Two accompanying maids." "..." The two outside exchanged a look, then they both shuddered violently, seeming to have imagined something. Fu Yao replied," Just pretend that the family´s poor, and there´s no money to buy maids, and deal with it." "All right," Xie Lian said.

XVI. Mu Qing dislike for Feng Xin´s demonstration of loyalty

His slap almost broke the entire sedan completely. (...) The way Nan feng spoke actually reminded him of how Feng Xin used to be, when he was mad. Nan Feng was about so say more when suddenly, the wailing of military officers came from the distance. Fu Yao said icily, "If there´s anything to say, say it after fighting this wave off first!" Without any other choice, Nan Feng had to rush over to rescue the people.

Mu Qing was greatly upset here.

It is not just impatience, with "icily" there is a step up from the "coolness" his voice is typically described.

So it could be that he was greatly upset, that Feng Xin showed so great concern/loyalty to Xie Lian?

By the way...one moment where it was Mu Qing who had to remind Feng Xin that there were a couple of people they needed to rescue...

Is it some kind of jealousy of some bond between Xie Lian and Feng Xin?

XVII. Xie Lian was the boss here

"Good," Xie Lian said. "Fu Yao, follow this path immediately and search the surrounding area. Make sure the ghost groom hasn´t escaped." Fu Yao turned and left when he heard the instructions.

It also described one habit of Xie Lian...He will keep Nan Feng/Feng Xin by his side and send Fu Yao/Mu Qing away.

XVIII. Mu Qing has a more apathetic impression of people

Sometimes it appeared as if Mu Qing was just tired of the wickedness of the people

Fu Yao waved dismissively and said apathecially, "Let them be, those unruly people." He sounded extremely disgusted, not wanting to care anymore.

XIX. Silverbutterflies provoke a flight reaction in Mu Qing

"Silver butterflies," Xie Lian said. Earlier, when Nan Feng and Fu Yao saw the forest of hanging corpses, they remained considerably composed. But the instant those two words left Xie Lian´s mouth, he could clearly see the drop in their faces. Fu Yao exlaimed in disbelief, " What did you say? Silver butterflies? What kind of silver butterflies?" Xie Lian realized that he had probably said something significant and explained," They´re like silver, yet also like crystal. They don´t seem to be living creatures. But they look quite pretty." He saw Nan Feng and Fu Yao exchange looks with expressions so grim their faces were almost green. After a while, Fu Yao said darkly," Leave. Right now." "We haven´t settled the case of the ghost groom yet, how can I leave?" Xie Lian said. "Settle?" Fu Yao said. He turned back and sneered. "Seems like you have really tarried too long in the Human Realm. This ghost groom is merely a wrath. Even the Green Ghost of this hanging-corpses forest is merely a "near-supreme, as pesky as he might be." After another pause, he suddenly said in a stern voice, "Do you know who the master of those silver butterflies is?" Xie Lian replied honestly," I don´t." "...Even if you don´t, there isn´t time for me to explain now," Fu Yao said stiffly. "In short, he isn´t someone you can handle. You´d better hurry back to the Heavenly Realm and ask for reinforcements." "Then you head back first," Xie Lian. "You--" "The master of those silver butterflies never showed any hint of malice," Xie Lian said." If he does harbor malice, if he really is as terrifying as you claim, then no one within the perimeter of Mount Yujun would be abel to excape his clutches. All the more reason someone has to stand guard here right now. So why don´t you go back first and help me seek reinforcements?" He could tell Fu Yao didn´t want to remain here and deal with so many troublesome matters. If that was the case, then Xie Lian wouldn´t force the issue. Fu Yao was a straightforward person, so he really did leave on his own with a toss of his sleeves.

The mere notice of Hua Cheng provoked in Mu Qing a flight response. Since Xie Lian did not understand this reaction and worried for the people, he refused to go.

Even though Xie Lian expressed it so that he left Fu Yao/Mu Qing some face ("So why don´t you go back first and help me seek reinforcements?"), he clearly did not exprect for this person to come back. Yet he did not wish to force him to stay with him and let him go.

XX. Fu Yao returned

Well...Nan Feng/Feng Xin did not leave Fu Yao some face, when he returned...Xie Lian had to conciliate their dispute.

It is interesting that when Feng Xin brought up Fu Yao´s general...

Actually, based on Xie Lian´s understanding of Mu Qing, Xie Lian was pretty sure that the wouldn´t come even if he had the time. But under the present circumstances, there wasn´t time to dwell on that.

Xie Lian remarked bitterly in his thoughts that Mu Qing would not come, even if he had the time for it. (So it appeared that Xie Lian did not know yet...that Fu Yao is Mu Qing)

-> So it seemed that Xie Lian felt still hurt by the betrayal of Mu Qing. He has not forgiven him yet.

Xie Lian later remarked that Fu Yao had some influence in the Palace of Xuan Zhen, as he was able to call capable people from there.

XXI. Human Face Disease

The other two are greatly affected by Xie Lian´s reveal.

"It´s not a matter of ugliness," Xie Lian replied. "He...has the Human Face Disease." Hearing those three words, both Nan Feng and Fu Yao froze. They finally understood, why Xie Lian was so shocked.

XXII. Gentle feelings on both sides at the end of the first journey

Fu Yao lifted the hem of his robe and sat down next to him. Alas, he could no longer keep it in and rolled his eyes. "How much longer are you gonna wear that thing?" It felt incredibly endearing, somehow, to see his eyes roll. Xie Lian finally took off the wedding dress, wiped away his makeup, and then realized dejectedly (...)

Fu Yao sat down next to Xie Lian (The distance between them has diminished!) , rolling his eyes and reminding him that he still wore the wedding dress.

That is a long way from the guy, who had wiped his fingers, when Xie Lian "saw him the first time".

And Xie Lian?

Was this the moment he seriously suspected it? Especially since he strangely considered Fu Yaos eye roll "incredibly endearing"...

A typical reaction of Mu Qing´s, when he had been annoyed...

Well...this person came back after all, after leaving...even while being really scared...that was most likely one point..But if he suspected it here, Xie Lian must have felt "incredibly" happy...

Xie Lian and Mu Qing´s loneliness (partly my commentary)

More or less from the start , the reader is aware that Xie Lian is lonely, disconnected from the rest of the gods...and human beings, even though he cares from the start about every living being...There is some wall between him and the rest of them.

Even though he was kind, he did have no friends at the beginning. The gods did not take him seriously and human beings would have died far earlier than him. His memory is hazy - not uncommon for trauma survivors and Xie Lian better did not want to remember certain events.

And Mu Qing? His comment pretty much shows us how he perceived the other Heavenly Officials of the Upper Court...

Fu Yao concluded, "In the Upper Court, there aren´t that many who are trustworthy and worth meeting." Xie Lian thought it funny that Fu Yao sounded like he was speaking from experience and cautioning a newcomer. He wondered if Fu Yao only spoke because he had been bullied in the Heavenly Realm himself, and the experience had affected him deeply. But then again, even though Xie Lian had ascended three times, he never stuck around for long. So when it came to understanding the gods, he might actually know less than these two juniour officials.

Mu Qing did not trust another Heavenly Official in the Upper Court and he is "cautioning" Xie Lian here...this was meant as a well-meaning advice...but it showed how much fear of other human beings determined his life as a god.

Xie Lian was finally able to show sympathy to Fu Yao(Mu Qing) ("he had been bullied in the Heavenly Realm himself and the experience had affected him deeply"), even though he was pretty tired.

It was pretty likely that Mu Qing experienced the same bullying than he had in the Royal Temple...as a former servant among generals, nobility and princes...

Conclusions

Mu Qing did not become Fu Yao purely without some bad intent and surely he did not intent to become friendly with Xie Lian (indirectly criticizing him, mocking his reputation)

The turning point was Xie Lian presenting both of them his deep wounds (lesser the obvious wounds and the cursed shackle) that moved both (Feng Xin and Mu Qing)

Even though there were many unresolved issues presented, all three enjoyed their shared time together - The journey ends on a high for all three people!

Mu Qing is partly able to overcome his deep fear of Hua Cheng: He came back after all.

Xie Lian has a hunch, that these two are his former subordinates

#tgcf #mu qing #xie lian #meta

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user-needs-new-hyperfixation · 1 year ago

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Okay pls im just getting into tgcf and the names are soo confusing 😭

Could you pls list tge names of all the important characters with like a short nite on who they are?

Pls?

I don't know more than the white one and the red one plsss

I know the names are confusing! I actually highly recommend you buy at least the first volume of the novel if you're able. It's readily available in English (even the tiny chain bookstore in my small town mall has it stocked). And it has all this information in a glossary in the back. Some of the alternate names for characters are major spoilers, and there's just like...a lot of characters, so I'm not gonna list them all, but I'll do a few:

In short, most characters have a name, a title, and then whatever assorted nicknames other characters give them. And sometimes alternate names for secret identities. I'm assuming here that you're watching the donghua, so I'm mostly talking about characters who have appeared there so far.

Xie Lian - the guy in white. Also called Xianle in heaven (mostly by Jun Wu.) Xianle was the kingdom that Xie Lian was once prince of, and to quote the glossary:

His title Xianle is a multi-layered nickname. "Xianle" is Xie Lian's official heavenly title and also the name of his kingdom. "Xianle" itself can translate to "Heaven's Delight," which ties into Xie Lian's "Four Famous Tales" moniker, "The Prince Who Pleased God." Jun Wu referring to Xie Lian as "Xianle" sounds professional and businesslike on the surface (as Jun Wu generally refers to gods by their heavenly titles only), but it deliberately and not-so-subtly comes across as an affectionate term of endearment.

Basically Jun Wu is calling him his little Meow Meow. 😂

Hua Cheng/San Lang/Crimson Rain Sought Flower - the red guy lmao.

Spoilers below this point!

Feng Xin/General Nan Yang/Nan Feng

and

Mu Qing/General Xuan Zhan/Fu Yao - These are those two guys who follow Xie Lian around complaining in the first season while going by the names Nan Feng and Fu Yao. They're pretending to be sent by the generals, but they actually are the generals in disguise. They're also the guys who Xie Lian dropped a bell on and destroyed the palace of when he reascended at the start of the first season. There's a whole bunch of backstory about the three of them.

Jun Wu/Emperor of Heaven. What it says on the tin. Top dog god.

Ling Wen - tired library lady who surprisingly turns out to be part of a trinity of douchey frat bros alongside Pei Ming and Shi Wudu.

Pei Ming/General Ming Guang - playboy guy who broke that lady's heart in season one and then she turned into a crazy ghost. He's the one who is interrogating Xie Lian about his boyfriend stabbing Pei Ming's great-great-great-great-great-great grandsomething at the start of season 2

Pei Xiu/Little Pei. The aforementioned great-great-great-great-great-great grandsomething

Shi Qingxuan - our beloved gender-bending Wind Master.

Lang Qianqiu/General Tai Hua - that kid sleeping in the meeting at the start of season 2. He's about to get real important. He was also a crown prince before ascending, which is why his servant calls him Taizi Dianxia (big fancy Your Royal Highness kinda title) and makes Xie Lian do that whole sad thing where he looks up and then remembers no one calls him that anymore. 🥺

I mostly get repeatedly confused by Feng Xin and Mu Quing's alternate titles. They're frequently mentioned together and I keep mixing up which general is which and which disguise is which, even though their actual identities are easy to separate lol.

#tgcf #heaven official's blessing spoilers #heaven official's blessing #tgcf spoilers #asks

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hunxi-after-hours · 2 years ago

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hunxi’s danmei awards 2.0! (aka 2022 edition)

Featuring the return of some categories such as:

Best Worldbuilding

Best Interrogation of Themes (aka the “Rent-Free Award”)

Best Moment That Wrecked Me (aka the Knifiest Award)

Best Beleaguered Side Character Award

Best Unreliable Narrator

As well as never-before-seen categories like:

Best Himbo

Most Brilliant Moment of Backstabbery

Most Ambitious Scope

Most Heartwrenching Line Delivery in an Audiodrama

…and more!

This year’s candidates in the running:

《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu by 一十四洲 Yi Shi Si Zhou

《不小心救了江湖公敌》 Bu Xiao Xin Jiule Jianghu Gong Di by 六木乔 Liu Muqiao (有声漫画 audiomanhua season 1)

《无双》 Wu Shuang by 梦溪石 Meng Xishi

《问鹿三千》 Wen Lu San Qian by 光合积木 Voicegem, 吼浪文化 Houlang Studio, and 斗木獬编剧工作室 Doumuxie Screenwriting Studio

《师弟还不杀我灭口》 Shidi Hai Bu Sha Wo Mie Kou by 子鹿 Zi Lu

《默读》 Mo Du by priest

《督主有病》 Du Zhu You Bing by 杨溯 Yang Su

《海中爵》 Hai Zhong Jue by 七药 Qi Yao

《哏儿》 Gen’er by 南北逐风 Nan Bei Zhu Feng

《杀破狼》 Sha Po Lang by priest

《金牌助理之弯弯没想到》 Jin Pai Zhu Li zhi Wan Wan Mei Xiang Dao by (nominally) 非天夜翔 Fei Tian Ye Xiang and (mostly) 传奇火箭队 The Legendary Rocket Team

(unmarked spoilers, including but not limited to these titles, under the cut. for introductions of these titles, click here. for last year’s danmei awards, click here)

Best Worldbuilding

Winner: 《杀破狼》 Sha Po Lang by priest

This award goes to 《杀破狼》 Sha Po Lang for the effortless ease with which p大 manages to merge the genres of imperial intrigue, steampunk mecha, alternate history, and wuxia elements. Over the course of the novel, priest explores how the development of 紫流金-based technology leads the fictional Liang Dynasty into industrial revolution, and doesn’t hesitate to include all the negative consequences of early industrialization. So you’ve rolled out mechanical alternatives for farming? Have fun dealing with the uprisings of unemployed farmers while fending off international threats on your borders. So you want to roll out paper currency/government bonds to stimulate your war-torn economy? Good luck even getting people to trust the validity of paper the way they trust the hardness of coin. In a way, 《杀破狼》 Sha Po Lang carries on the tradition set down in priest’s earlier novel 《七爷》 Qi Ye of protagonists using decidedly underhanded methods to effect the change they wish to see in the world, and the morality thereof remains just as thorny in 《杀破狼》. what would you do in the name of peace? how much of yourself can you give away before you are no longer the same person?

oh and I have to give a shout-out to the trains in this book, I’d give this award to 《杀破狼》 Sha Po Lang for its (re-)invention of trains alone

Best Interrogation of Themes (aka the “Rent-Free Award”)

Winner: 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu by 一十四洲 Yi Shi Si Zhou

I listened to 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu via audiodrama before I read the novel, and every time I finished an episode I would have to just sit for a few hours, processing. Despite its seemingly lighthearted premise, 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu shows us an apocalypse in all its cruel magnificence. The oppressive atmosphere of unending martial law, the seductive proximity of despair, the omnipresence and unpredictability of death, the utter lack of justice or closure or meaning in a world slowly grinding to a halt, the vast, inhuman lengths civilization will go to in the name of survival... to this day, 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu haunts the solemnity of my early mornings with questions like what would you condone to survive? and wherein lies the locus of meaning when everything it means to be human has been stripped away? and like. I haven’t been the same since my mushroom phase, okay

Best Beleaguered Side Character Award

Winner: Ji Bolan from 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu by 一十四洲 Yi Shi Si Zhou

This poor man had to deal with his childhood friend growing up to be a governmentally-licensed and universally-reviled mass murderer, the complete breakdown of the laws of physics, and witnessing Lu Feng and An Zhe flirt in front of his salad soup, all during the apocalypse that he is frantically trying to solve. Frankly, he’s allowed to roast Lu Feng as much as he wants, and the fact that he’s voiced by the same person who did AD!Jiang Cheng and AD!Xiao Zheng (winner of last year’s Best Beleaguered Side Character Award) is 1) extremely funny, 2) very on-brand, and 3) further proof that being in voice actor fandom 其乐无穷

Best Moment That Wrecked Me (aka the Knifiest Award)

Winner: 《默读》 Mo Du by priest

The character of Fei Du in priest’s 《默读》 is easily the character who had me clawing at the walls the most for the better part of this year (I’m still clawing at the walls, if we’re being honest). I am in love with everything about the way priest wrote him; from his introduction as the flamboyantly aggravating playboy chasing after Tao Ran (brilliant character work there as well as brilliant comedy, 感谢陶然不弯之恩 etc etc) to the slow, methodical reveal of his backstory and how deeply, deeply traumatized he is, Fei Du is one of the most complex and intelligent and nuanced and terribly lovable meow meows characters I’ve had the good fortune to run into

To pick a single Fei Du moment? A single one? Well if I have to choose, unfortunately it’s going to have to be chapter 180 朗诵（五） for the simple reason that it hurts me:

他恨不能撕裂时空，大步闯入七年前，一把抱起那个沉默的孩子，双手捧起他从不流露的伤痕，对他说一句“对不起，我来晚了”。

[Luo Wenzhou] wished he could tear apart time, to barge back into that moment seven years ago and pick up that silent child, to cradle those hidden wounds and say to him, “I’m sorry I was late.”

“我来晚了……”

“I was late...”

直到上了救护车，费渡才好像是有了点意识，难以聚焦的目光在骆闻舟脸上停留了许久，大概是认出了他，竟露出了一个微笑。

Fei Du only seemed to recover a semblance of consciousness when they loaded him into the ambulance. His eyes, unfocused, stopped on Luo Wenzhou’s face for a while before smiling slightly.

骆闻舟艰难地看懂了他无声的唇语。

Luo Wenzhou read his words in the soundless shape of his lips with difficulty.

他说：“没有了……怪物都清理干净了，我是最后一个，你可不可以把我关在你家？”

He said, “They’re all gone... All the monsters are taken care of, I’m the last one. Can you lock me up in your house?”

I’m just. if you need me I’ll be screaming about sunflowers in the abyss

Best Unreliable Narrator

Winner: Yan Zhuoqing and the Deer God of 《问鹿三千》 Wen Lu San Qian by 光合积木 Voicegem, 吼浪文化 Houlang Studio, and 斗木獬编剧工作室 Doumuxie Screenwriting Studio

surprising shortage of unreliable narrators in this year’s contenders, but 《问鹿三千》 makes up for it by having not one, but TWO unreliable narrators involved. can you believe that BOTH of these semi-immortal dumbasses have amnesia? smh Deer God you’re literally the god of time and memory, how you’ve even gotten this far I’ve got no idea

honorable mention: Fei Du from 《默读》 by priest. this man had the audacity to say the words “我没有创伤” / “I’m not traumatized” after asking for Luo Wenzhou’s assistance in recovering some of his repressed memories that he’d blocked out because of the — you guessed it — trauma

Best Himbo

Winner: Situ Jin from 《督主有病》 Du Zhu You Bing by 杨溯 Yang Su

I think it’s safe to say that Situ Jin is a Very Good Egg With No Braincells Whatsoever. None. This man had to be bullied into a hurt/comfort scenario by his future wife, and when she came to him for comfort, grieving her father’s death, he responded to her “now I’m all alone” with “don’t cry: you’re one, I’m one, together we’re two.” proud of u for basic math, bro, but is now really the time. his other highlights include: thinking dreamily about his wife while in prison, defending innocent bystanders regardless the personal cost, and continually failing to seek medical attention while bleeding out

Side Character I’m Still Mad About (aka the Gongyi Xiao Award)

Winner: Fu Luo from 《海中爵》 Hai Zhong Jue by 七药 Qi Yao

so it turns out that I am Weak for this very specific kind of character, the one who is a Good Kid, the one who tries their best to be responsible and reasonable, the one who could honestly be a protagonist in another novel. double points if you can trust them with a spreadsheet (Bian Yanmei), triple points if they’re delightfully lowkey devoted to the actual protagonist (can I get a wahoo for the Jiangzuo Alliance in here??)

and you know what the author does? murders them with prejudice

tl;dr I’m still not over Fu Luo, because like oh man that scene was well done but also ouch

"most memeworthy/meme-able"

(this one’s for you, @presumenothing)

Winner: 《督主有病》 Du Zhu You Bing by 杨溯 Yang Su

I mean I literally—

this book is a Very Serious and Somewhat Grimdark book, but I have to say the sheer amount of misunderstandings that occur are comical in their quantity. have you ever met two people more in love with each other and less capable of uttering a single sentence about it, it is only by the grace of the author that these two didn’t murder each other before their happy ending at the many given opportunities throughout the book

"most deserving of a shenshen OST"

(this one’s also for you, @presumenothing, ty for all the brilliant category recs)

Winner: ........?

this is such an interesting award category to consider, because it’s like asking “which one of these texts would you like to hand a steak knife to gut you with,” but it also begs the question of what a shenshen OST would bring to the text that the existing music/adaptation doesn’t. it also raises the question of what kind of narrative (grand, sweeping, vast in scale or minute, gentle, heartbreaking?) would be most compatible with a shenshen OST?

my first thought was 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu, since it has both the monumental scope and the fragile, breakable heart that shenshen OST’s are so suited for (他只是一个小蘑菇 goodbYE—), but the music of the 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu AD is already so perfect I don’t actually want to add anything to it. my next thought would be 《问鹿三千》 Wen Lu San Qian — again, for that blend of scale and sorrow, wistfulness at what can never be and gratitude for what we have. but 《问鹿》 also has five songs already, and while a shenshen OST would be nice, it most certainly isn’t necessary

so I think I’m going to cheat and give this award to a title that isn’t even on the list of candidates this year, one that already has a shenshen OST: 《天宝伏妖录》 Tian Bao Fu Yao Lu by 非天夜翔 Fei Tian Ye Xiang, which has the great fortune to have Zhou Shen’s 《天地为念》 for its ongoing donghua title song. what a beautiful, meditative song; what an ethereal, gently sorrowful melody. extra brownie points because I maintain that Zhou Shen and 锦鲤 Jin Li (the voice of Kong Hongjun) are counterparts of each other in their respective industries, and also because I’m ride or die for both of them

"most untranslatable ever"

(category shout-out to — you guessed it — @presumenothing)

Winner: oh ABSOLUTELY 《金牌助理之弯弯没想到》 Jin Pai Zhu Li zhi Wan Wan Mei Xiang Dao by 非天夜翔 Fei Tian Ye Xiang and 传奇火箭队 The Legendary Rocket Team

I consider myself fairly proficient in audiodramas on 猫耳FM as a medium/genre now; I’m familiar with the ways script adaptation dovetails with post-production, the roles the voice directors and producers and casts play, the different twists that can happen with 报幕, what names to keep an eye out for while checking out the production team... so when I say that this audiodrama knocked me flat on the ass when I first listened to it, I really do mean that I was in no way prepared for the chaos that was to come. where do I even begin to describe it? the speed? the unhinged energy? the unending 吐槽 / roasts? the brilliant comedic pacing? the extremely 洗脑片尾曲？whatever the hell this is?

this audiodrama is not only the most untranslatable ever due to the high concentration of internet and culture-specific slang, but also apparently the most impossible to explain ever. idk. listen to this AD and lose your mind

Most Brilliant Moment of Backstabbery

Winner: ch. 116 of 《无双》 Wu Shuang by 梦溪石 Meng Xishi

I described 《无双》 Wu Shuang as “a book about roasting your rival first, saving your dynasty second,” but perhaps didn’t do justice to the sheer lengths these two will go to one-up each other. I’d like to take this moment to recognize a certain flamboyant demonic sect leader (that is somehow not Yan Wushi) for not just habitually backstabbing (gently, for funsies) his love interest but also getting some frontstabbery (once, with great intention) in as well. truly, no one out here is doing it like Feng Xiao

honorable mention: 《不小心救了江湖公敌》 Bu Xiao Xin Jiule Jianghu Gong Di by 六木乔 Liu Muqiao, for the sheer quantity of backstabbing that occurs. maybe this is simply what happens when all of your characters are professional evildoers at fluctuating levels of retirement

Best Comfort Media

Winner: 《哏儿》 Gen’er by 南北逐风 Nan Bei Zhu Feng

earlier this year, I went around asking various people: what makes a book, movie, or other text comfort media for you? listening to the answers, it occurred to me that I don’t really have texts that I turn to on a semi-regular basis to re-read or re-watch. especially because my favorite books tend to be the ones that rip my heart out through my throat, the idea of choosing a “comfort read” from among them seems somewhat, er, misguided

and then I ran into 《哏儿》 Gen’er, which is the only text I’ve chosen to carry over from last year’s danmei awards because the second season of the AD aired this year. this webnovel/AD is also, genre-wise, the outlier in this year’s awards — no magic, no speculative elements, not a single sword in sight, just slice-of-life, daily trials and tribulations, characters balancing budgets and bantering backstage and discussing art over hotpot. the cast and characters of 《哏儿》 feel real and lived-in in a way that is so deeply precious to me; at times throughout the year, I would simply cue up the beginning of S2E2 to listen to the first fifteen minutes or so to quiet down. the ongoing discussions threaded throughout the narrative about the roles of traditional culture and art in modern society, how to adapt traditional forms to contemporary values and preferences, and the ever-relevant question of how to get other people to care about things you love... 《哏儿》 hits different, hits real close to home, asks thought-provoking questions in a gentle, lighthearted manner in a way that is totally unique among the danmei works I’ve read, so here I am, conferring this new, foreign honor upon it. it’s a first for both of us!

Most Ambitious Scope

Winner: 《问鹿三千》 Wen Lu San Qian by 光合积木 Voicegem, 吼浪文化 Houlang Studio, and 斗木獬编剧工作室 Doumuxie Screenwriting Studio

I know, I know — very bold of me to give this award to an audiodrama that’s still airing, that we don’t know if it’ll ever be completed, but I still have to take a moment to yell about this completely original episodic gufeng AD, because like... wow. there is no answer key; there is no original work; there is no blueprint to work off of, no pre-existing fanbase of readers to appeal to. this entire project with its xuanhuan scope will succeed or fail based on its merits alone, and what scope it has, too — from the five voice actor songs (I guess everyone in 光合积木 can sing too??? sure that’s fine I guess) to penning scripts that play specifically to the voice actors’ strengths, to engaging with thorny dynamics of family and relationship and devotion and misalignment, I think it’s real gutsy of the 《问鹿》 creative team to embark on such a vast and ambitious project, and carry it off as well as they did. now it’s just 乖巧坐等更新.jpeg hours, fingers crossed they come back for a season 2

Best Work I Was Songbaited Into

Winner: 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu by 一十四洲 Yi Shi Si Zhou

Definitely the first thing that even put 《小蘑菇》 Xiao Mo Gu on my radar was 奇然’s 《风过荒野》 appearing in my YouTube algorithm. The song’s arrangement is haunting, lyrical, and so unlike any other AD song I’ve ever heard. The second season’s 《极光入夜》 is also transcendent in lyrics, composition, and the fact that both of the main voice actors can sing 哎呦还让人活吗—and don’t even get me started on the beautiful piano and string covers they work into the soundtrack! 声罗万象请受我一拜！

let’s put it this way: I actually went out of my way to translate the 《小蘑菇》 songs (here and here) for how hard they go. one day I’ll get over the lines “玫瑰静默凋谢” and “审判是我于你的吻别” but today will not be that day

honorable mention: 《督主有病》 Du Zhu You Bing by 杨溯 Yang Su, for having the opposite energy of the 《默读》 AD asdlfskdfjs no less than FIVE original songs composed for a THREE season AD. I was on the fence about listening to this AD until I heard 远皓ZIL’s 《燃灯》, which immediately joined my playlist before I’d even read the book. Again, the lyricism, the arrangement, the melancholy, deeply thoughtful atmosphere of the song got me interested in exactly what kind of maddeningly angsty plot could result in these lyrics:

我愿抚拂前尘燃着灯做你归途的引 / I would brush away the dust of our past and light a lamp, and be what guides you back

只求你破迷津渡极乐回首看我在等 / I only pray that you break free from the labyrinth and deliver paradise, to look back and see me waiting

我匍匐入尘埃叩长阶奉上所有虔诚 / I crawl through the dirt, pressing my forehead to the stone steps of the long stairway, offering up all of my piety

只为听你亲将相思说那纸情书太薄 / just to hear you say, yearning for me, that this love letter is too thin

不载残��颠簸无你我苦不可脱 / it cannot carry what’s left of our tumultuous lives — without you or me, life would be bitter with no escape

Audiodrama Adaptation with the Strongest First Episode

Winner: 《督主有病》 Du Zhu You Bing by 杨溯 Yang Su

Adaptation is a delicate and tricky practice; how do you accommodate for the limits of production, the requirements of medium, when it comes to translating a work across dimensions? And particularly when it comes to AD’s, how can you capture a listener’s attention within the first few episodes, to bait them into the story and make them willing to pay money to unlock what happens next?

this award has to go to 珞玉 Luo Yu and 子穆木 Zi Mumu for their adaptation of 杨溯 Yang Su’s novel 《督主有病》 Du Zhu You Bing. The book itself runs chronologically, from the two main characters first meeting each other as children, the months they spend together, their sudden (and deeply traumatic) parting, and then resumes the narrative the next time they meet each other seven years down the line, attempting to kill each other (in their defense, it was dark, and neither of them were sure if the other survived the massacre that separated them in the first place). Episode 1 “故人来” of the AD begins with that reunion as Shen Jue, disposing of a body, finds an injured assassin just outside the palace walls. They grapple in the dark until they recognize each other, and the way post-production editing fills in their backstory through a quick, tantalizing flashback and brings the listener back out of it by overlapping young!Xiahou Lian and present!Xiahou Lian saying the same lines (“shaoye, remember: don’t look back, don’t say anything—”)... well done, well played, I sure paid money to listen to the rest of this AD

Audiodrama Adaptation with the Strongest First Ten Minutes

Winner: 《海中爵》 Hai Zhong Jue by 七药 Qi Yao

haha I think I’m hilarious, but while 《督主》 has the strongest first episode I would also like to shout out how good the first ten minutes of 《海中爵》 Hai Zhong Jue are. seamless transition from baby Hailian to adult Hailian, from quiet lullaby to sea battle, and establishing Hailian’s sass, competence, kindness, and swashbuckling swagger as well as introducing Fang Tinglan (and his shamelessness asldfksj). credit has to go to the director 齐杰, the scriptwriter 虾仁猪心@一梦还江月, and the post-production editor 时柒@丶为之奈何 for pacing the opening scene so well, and an extra special shout-out to 梅梅 (韬韬你是最棒的) for the funniest little “bye~~~” as he throws someone off a boat

Most Heartwrenching Line Delivery in an Audiodrama (aka the Knifiest Award, audio edition)

Winner: S1E7 of the 《默读》Mo Du audiodrama

I can yell for years about how talented voice actors are, but there are specific moments while listening where I have to pause for a second or ten and silently mouth “damn”

杨天翔 Yang Tianxiang’s performance as Fei Du in season 1, episode 7 of the 《默读》 Mo Du audiodrama knocks it out of the goddamn solar system with the plaza broadcast scene — this was a scene that I was pretty eh on in the novel, but after listening to it in the AD... 当! 场! 封! 神! with Yang Tianxiang’s measured delivery, the slow excavation of the depth of Fei Du’s anguish, the forced steadiness of his voice when he says “你们如果都这么狠心，为什么以前还要表现出好像很在乎我们的样子?” / “If all of you were always this cruel, why did you pretend to care about us so much in the beginning?” underlaid by the devastatingly quiet, melancholy piano backing of 《以沫》 that then kicks into the sequence that culminates in 何忠义 He Zhongyi’s “等我回来!” / “Wait for me to come home!”... (silently screams into a paper bag) I’m not okay and I haven’t been okay for months

Honorable Mentions:

S2E2 “也恨相逢” of 《督主有病》 Du Zhu You Bing by 杨溯 Yang Su: specifically for 梅梅’s line “少爷，这是我的命” / “shaoye, this is my fate.” for a scene that didn’t even exist in the original novel... hot damn wow

E12 “绝不复寡“ of 《师弟还不杀我灭口》 Shidi Hai Bu Sha Wo Mie Kou by 子鹿 Zi Lu: 锦鲤 has the range and this AD proves it! While he spends most of the AD being generally the comedic, satirical commentary, Zhong Yan/Qin Mingxi absolutely begging, tears in his voice, for Gu Xuanyan to leave him to die in this scene? look I’m not immune to this trope either

S1E13·上 of 《问鹿三千》 Wen Lu San Qian by 光合积木 Voicegem, 吼浪文化 Houlang Studio, and 斗木獬编剧工作室 Doumuxie Screenwriting Studio: (cups hands around mouth, yells) 马! 老! 师! it’s hard to explain the heartbreaking context of the line I have in mind without giving away the entire story, but 马正阳’s throat-scraping scream of “我要你爱我” / “I want you to love me!” is wince-inducing from the sheer force of the raw anguish in it

wooooo and that’s a wrap! thanks for tuning into the 2022 danmei awards :)

looking forward at my reading list, I’m not sure I’ll be doing a 2023 round since my reading is taking me in different directions and I simply might not have enough candidates to fill out a whole awards post next year (and I suspect I’ll have gone so far off the map that people won’t even have the faintest idea what I’m talking about anymore asldkfajsd)

it’s been fun!!! catch you all in the new year!!

#came for the mushroom stayed for the mushroom #saving your kingdom while burnt out: the imperial intrigue steampunk wuxia light mecha alternate historical novel #voice(bear) appreciation hours #《督主有病》#《无双》 backlog #guess who walked into and out of the abyss while y'all weren't looking #新年快乐送你们一篇博君一笑

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shadowuserannie · 1 month ago

Text

The Immortal Twins (Fic WIP)

"Would you like to hear a story?"

Xie Lian doesn't get a chance to speak before Nan Feng. "Fuck off." Then he makes a grunting sound, which Xie Lian has long recognized as his 'Fu Yao kicked me in the shin again' due to him making that sound only when Fu Yao did so.

The other Middle Court Official smiles pleasantly at the beggar. It's a smile that quite reminds Xie Lian of Shi Qingxuan, so full of warmth and life that it would take the coldest of hearts not to smile back. Sure enough, the beggar's somewhat frightened expression relaxes a little, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards, albeit with Nan Feng's rough language he still seems a little on edge.

"Sorry about him, and yes, why not?"

The beggar makes a gesture at the tin in front of him, and Fu Yao drops two coins in. Then he sits on the floor, and Xie Lian settles beside him. Nan Feng narrows his eyes at Fu Yao, who responds with an eye roll. Nan Feng's lips thin. Fu Yao crosses his arms.

Xie Lian truly finds their silent communication fascinating-since they never tap their temples when doing so, they are nonverbally communicating without the spiritual communication array. The only two others he's seen communicating so casually and silently are Mu Qing and Feng Xin. As Xie Lian always does whenever Nan Feng and Fu Yao visit him, momentarily he considers if in the last eight centuries or so, his old companions had truly changed enough to act out two completely different people easily, but he dismisses it once more. The dynamic of Nan Feng and Fu Yao carries some similarities to Feng Xin and Mu Qing, yes, but the two younger don't have the frankly ridiculous sexual tension he can't believe has only increased the past eight centuries he's seen the two older. No, they act closer to siblings, a relationship not easily faked, if at all.

Their silent conversation ends when Nan Feng twitches and finally sits, shooting a look even Xie Lian easily reads as 'shut up', crossing his arms. Fu Yao nods to the beggar. "Sorry, can you tell your story now?" He drops an extra coin in.

The beggar raises his hands dramatically. "Once upon a time, there was a Ghost King who despised the gods of Heaven."

Xie Lian perks up involuntarily, while both Fu Yao and Nan Feng twitch.

"This Ghost King greatly despised two gods most of all. He cursed them at every turn, but always they evaded him. Eventually, he devised a plan that would eliminate both, once and for all. He cursed the two of them to intertwine, causing one of the gods to be pregnant with the other's child."

Nan Feng's face goes carefully blank.

Fu Yao folds his hands behind his back. Xie Lian must've imagined the crack.

"The ghost king thought the two gods would abandon the child. And some versions of the story say so."

"And other versions?" Xie Lian prompts.

"Other versions say the god gave birth. Not to a child, but to two children, the first two children ever to be born completely of gods. One with the golden eyes and one with silver." The beggar's eyes have an almost manic glint in them. It would be off-putting to anyone else.

Xie Lian hums. "And-"

"I think that's enough."

Xie Lian rarely hears Fu Yao speak so brusquely. Usually, it's a tone he reserves for his ire at San Lang, otherwise never using it at all.

"Time to go."

Nan Feng stands up quickly, making a hand motion for Xie Lian to get up quickly, too. What's puzzling is how quickly Fu Yao gets up as well.

Xie Lian gets to his feet slowly, and brushes off his robes. He tips his hat to the beggar and begins to walk away, following the fast-paced Nan Feng and Fu Yao already walking off into the distance.

Their reactions are abnormal. It's a pity that Xie Lian doesn't have anywhere to place the legend-if it is one. Without the names of the gods, or the ghost king, or even a simple possible time period, he can't discover more with such cryptic and little information. And he would-only so he'd know why his friends reacted as such and be able to help them. The story itself is extremely vague and far-fetched, but anything can happen with Heaven.

The beggar's voice disappears behind him as Xie Lian gives chase to his friends, but not quickly enough for him to not hear.

"They're called the Immortal Twins."

#Immortal Twins AU #tgcf #mxtx tgcf #tgcf fanfic #tgcf nan feng #tgcf fu yao #tgcf xie lian #tgcf hua cheng #tgcf fengqing #my wips #fic wip #drafts #random day random piece

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web-novel-polls · 2 years ago

Text

Danmei Tournament Bracket & Competitors

Round 1

Short Story of Shaowang vs. Where is Our Agreement to be Arch-Rivals? [WINNER: Where is Our Agreement to Be Arch-Rivals?]

Green Plum Island vs. You've Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale [WINNER: You've Got Mail]

Round 2

Lie Huo Jiao Chou vs. Where is Our Agreement to be Arch-Rivals?

Mist vs. the Earth is Online

Golden Stage vs. Nan Chan

Everyday I Get Up to See the Villain Stealing the Show vs. Little Mushroom

Fox Demon Cultivation Manual vs. Let's Talk About That Guy Who Transmigrated to Pursue Me

Copper Coins vs. Mistakenly Saving the Villain

Liu Yao: the Revitalization of Fuyao Sect vs. After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine

You've Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale vs. Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know

Round 2 ends Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023, at noon CST. Let me know if you have any suggestions for the descriptions and content warnings!

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine

Author: Liu Gou Hua (刘狗花)

Other Names: After I Married the Disabled War God As My Concubine, Sau khi chiến thần tàn tật gả cho ta làm thiếp, 残疾战神嫁我为妾后

Media Type: Web novel

Chapters: 123 Chapters + 13 Extras

Main Pairing: Jiang Suizhou x Huo Wujiu

CW: ableism, violence, poisoning, death, war + more unknown

Links: Novel Updates, English Translation by SleepyTranslations

Description: [Jiang Suizhou] is a history lecturer transmigrated into a cutsleeve prince fated to be publicly beheaded by his new concubine Huo Wujiu, a captured legendary God of War given to JSZ in marriage to humiliate him by his brother the Emperor Jiang Shunheng.

“Aren’t you afraid of regretting this one day?” / “For him, never in this life.” - Ch.123

Copper Coins

Author: Mu Su Li (木苏里)

Other Names: Tong Qian Kan Shi, TQKS, Đồng tiền kham thế, เหรียญทองแดงปราบพิภพ, 铜钱龛世, 동전감세

Media Type: Web novel, Drama CD, Manhua

Chapters: 102 Chapters + 1 Extra (Completely Translated)

Main Pairing: Xue Xian (薛闲) x Xuanmin (玄悯)

CW: death, amnesia, ghosts, illness, murder + more unknown

Links: Novel Updates, English Translation/Introduction (Easier to sort via Novel Updates)

Description: “It's about the disembodied soul of a dragon who's looking for his lost body, as well as the people who were responsible for maiming him; he meets a mysterious demon-slaying monk with amnesia who only knows that he's looking for someone; maybe they fall in love idk. It's set in 11th century China and the magic is based on geomancy (feng shui).” - English Translation Introduction

“No Regrets. You have to hang out with me for hundreds or thousands of years, probably long. Even if you get tired of me, you can’t undo it.” / “It’s all I could ever wish for.”

Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know

Author: Cyan Wings / Qing Se Yu Yi / 青色羽翼

Other Names: Mozun ye xiang zhidao, 魔尊也想知道, DVAWTK

Media Type: Web Novel, Drama CD

Main Pairing: Wenren È x Yin Hanjiang - “Yinren”

CW: master-servant relationship*, death, suicide attempt, rape as a plot point (mentioned only, not main characters), body horror/gore, bus (gu parasites) - (Carrd), age difference, graphic violence, psychosis/hallucinations

Links: Carrd, Novel Updates

Description: The Devil Venerable, the Lord of Demon, Head of Xuanyuan Sect, Wenren È, discovers a book called <Abusive Romance: You Are the Unchanging One in My Heart>, which details the painful romance of two disciples of Shangqing Sect - Baili Qingmiao and He Wenzhao. In the novel, Wenren È is the devoted second male lead who sacrificed himself for Baili Qingmiao, which led to Yin Hanjiang, his subordinate and the fourth male lead, attempting to kill the female lead. Present-day Wenren È is now tasked with fixing the readers’ many complaints regarding the novel.

*While technically a master-servant relationship, especially at the beginning, the novel makes a point to show and explicitly state their progression to friends, not a servant and his master

**Wenren È is also sometimes referred to as Wen Renhe

Very aro-spec/ace-spec MCs, Yin Hanjiang is stupid and in love (and has rabies), side lesbians

Everyday I Get Up to See the Villain Stealing the Show

Author: Zhong Xiaosheng (钟晓生)

Other Names: EVSS, 每天起床都看到反派在抢戏

Media Type: Web Novel

Main Pairing: Han Changsheng x Huangfu Fengxuan Xichen / An Yuan

Chapters: 110 (Completely Translated)

CW: death, acceptance of death/suicidal idealation (HCS plans to die to An Yuan) + more unknown

Links: English Translation, Novel Updates

Description: Han Changsheng, the Head of the Tianning Cult, kills Lord An Yuan, a descended Immortal fated to eliminate the Tianning Demonic Cult. Confronted by an angry immortal and threatened with a new life surrounded by ugly men, Han Changsheng is sent back in time to fulfill his role: be killed by Lord An Yuan.

Fox Demon Cultivation Manual

Author: Feng Ge Qie Xing / 风歌且行

Other Names: FDCM, 狐妖修炼指南

Media Type: Web novel

Main Pairing: Song Ci x Rong Bai (Rongsong)

Chapters: 101 Chapters + 1 Extra (Completely Translated)

CW: abuse (to a main character & a side character), graphic violence, bigotry, minor character death, torture, shaming of appearance, suicidal idealation + more unknown

Links: Carrd, Novel Updates, English Translation by Lianyin

Description: Song Ci “mistakenly consumed the blood of the Demon King, causing himself to become a demon too. Since then, he hated the Demon King and wanted to take revenge” (Carrd). He ends up meeting Rong Bai without realizing he’s the aforementioned Demon King. Hijinks ensue.

Prequel: Your Ninth Royal Highness, Please Change Your Clothes

Sequel: The Demon Lord is Fleeing for HIs Life Again Today

Golden Stage

Author: Cang Wu Bin Bai (苍梧宾白)

Other Names: Golden Terrace, Hoàng Kim Đài/Đài Hoàng Kim, Huáng Jīn Tái, 黄金台

Media Type: Web Novel, Drama CD

Chapters: 79 Chapters + 4 Extras (Fully Translated)

Main Pairing: Fu Shen x Yan Xiaohan aka “Yanfu”

CW: ableism, slavery, death, violence, murder, animal death, fantasy drug use, implied sex (none depicted) - (Carrd)

Links: Carrd, Novel Updates, Character Guide, Official English Translation

Description: Returning to the capital after an assassination attempt, Fu Shen is ordered by a suspicious Emperor to marry Yan Xiaohan, the Emperor’s subordinate and Fu Shen’s rival, to weaken his growing power. “Enemies” → lovers

“I hope that you will hate me all your life.”

“Call me that again, and I may just give up the darkness and turn towards the light for you.”

Arranged political marriage, enemies in public but lovers in private, fluff, bickering/flirting, communication, doting/devoted

“From head to toe, where I’ve touched, and where I haven’t - I like all of it.”

Green Plum Island

Author: Hui Nan Que (回南雀)

Other Names: Qing Mei Yu, 青梅屿, 青梅嶼

Media Type: Web novel, Drama CD, Manhua

Chapters: 53 Chapters + 5 Extras (Completely Translated)

Main Pairing: Yu Mian x Yan Kongshan

CW: age difference (9 years; 18 & 27 at first meeting) + more unknown

Links: Novel Updates, English Translation

Description: After falling from a tree in his youth, Yu Mian can see people’s emotions via numbers and colors. When he meets his neighbor Yan Kongshan, he develops a crush. While he hopes Yan Kongshan will turn pink for love, he ends up turning yellow for desire without changing expression.

“Green Plum Island is well, your grandpa is well, Qiuqiu is well, the two cats are well. Only I’m not well…I miss you too much…I will be missing you when you read this letter.”

“‘But I can’t control who I like, so I’m going to keep on liking you.’ I think for a minute, then make a ridiculous statement: ‘I’ll like you until the day I don’t.’”

Let’s Talk About That Guy Who Transmigrated to Pursue Me

Author: Mo Xiao Xian (莫晓贤)

Other Names: 谈谈那个穿进书里来追我的家伙

Media Type: Web Novel

Chapters: 82 (Completely Translated)

Main Pairing: Wen Xuan x Jian Yi

CW: murder, fantasy racism + more

Links: Novel Updates, English Translation

Description: Wen Xuan is the Head Disciple of the Water Cloud Sect and the villain of an unnamed novel. Jian Yi is a new, talented shidi (younger fellow disciple) of the same sect who has transmigrated to support him and change his ending.

What is it about yearning characters with the surname Chu? Anyway, Chu Lian infests my brain like a dying rat. You will never be free of him <2

Lie Huo Jiao Chou

Author: Priest

Other Names: Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire, LHJC, 烈火浇愁, Liehuo, 烈火澆愁, 열화요수

Media Type: Web novel, Donghua/Anime, Audio Drama, Manhua

Main Pairing: Xuan Ji x Sheng Lingyuan

Chapters: 137 Chapters + 8 Extras

CW: violence, gore, suicide mention, horror, war, murder, cannibalism, child torture, self-inflicted injuries, discrimination, slavery, genocide (via Carrd), claustrophobia, ableism, drug addiction, non-consentual (“sleeping beauty”) kisses between the main CP (Translation), death, demons, amnesia

Links: Carrd, Novel Updates

Description: Xuan Ji is the newest member of the Reparations Department of the Deviant Control Office, which is tasked with dealing with the aftermath of deviant cases. He encounters the deceased Emperor Sheng Lingyuan who has been awakened after a thousand years and ends up pretending to be Xuan Ji’s sword.

“Because he craved, he longed fanatically for a certain person. Since ancient times, this concealed longing had been a blade hung above the heart, and falling short would certainly be heartbreaking.”

Little Mushroom

Author: Yi Shi Si Zhou (一十四洲)

Other Names: Cây nấm nhỏ, Xiao Mogu / 小蘑菇

Media Type: Novel (printed & ebook), Drama CD, Manhua

Main Pairing: An Zhe x Lu Feng aka “LuZhe”

CW: gore, violence, death, non-graphic sexual assault (Carrd)

Links: Buy the Novel Here, Carrd, Novel Updates

Description: An Zhe is a mutated mushroom whose spore has been harvested by humans. Being discovered by the Judges, humans tasked with eliminating xenogenics like him, means certain death. Lu Feng is one such Judge with a 100% accuracy rate in identifying infected humans.

Liu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect

Author: Priest

Other Names: Lục hào, ลิ่วเหยา, 六爻, 육효, Liu Yao: the Six Hexagrams

Media Type: Web Novel, Drama CD

Chapters: 109 Chapters + 3 Extras (Completely Translated)

Main Pairing: Yan Zhengming x Cheng Qian

CW: violence, death, major character death, gore, swearing + more

Links: Novel Updates, Chichi's Dives' English Translation

Description: “A cultivation story about how a declining sect is restored by a narcissist, troublemaker, meanie, idiot, and wimpy kid.” - Novel Updates

Found family/childhood friends, fantastic character growth, interesting characters

“My master’s way of cultivation is ‘follow one’s heart,’ ‘be unrestrained’ - Senior, pardon this junior’s insolence, but I’ve been wondering for a long time: Does suffering in solitude for the sake of longevity count as following one’s heart?” - Ch.46

“When he thought of Cheng Qian, he suddenly felt like there was nothing else that he desired in this life.” - Yan Zhengming, ch.56

Mist

Author: Wei Feng Ji Xu (微风几许)

Other Names: Bowu, Bạc vụ, 薄雾［无限］, Mist [Unlimited], Mist: Unlimited Flow

Media Type: Web novel, Drama CD, Manhua

Chapters: 103 Chapters + 3 Extras (Completely Translated)

Main Pairing: Ji Yushi x Song Qinglan aka “Qingyu” (晴雨 )

CW: cannibalism, discrimination, homophobia, death, gore, zombies, suicide, graphic violence + possibly more

Links: Tumblr Review (Spoilers Warning; Re-Read Review), Carrd (CW: glitch effect, flashing lights), English Translation, Why You Should Read It

Description: Ji Yushi is a beautiful genius with a perfect memory who is openly gay. He’s transferred to Song Qinlang’s team, who is known as a homophobe. Idk how to describe it, but there’s very interesting and complex time travel and parallel worlds; you’re just gonna have to take a gamble.

Mistakenly Saving the Villain

Other Names: Bàn về kết cục việc cứu lầm nhân vật phản diện, MISVIL, The Conclusion to When I Mistakenly Saved the Villain, ว่าด้วยจุดจบของการไปช่วยตัวร้าย, 論救錯反派的下場, 论救错反派的下场

Media Type: Web Novel, Drama CD

Main Pairing: Song Qingshi (宋清时) x Yue Wuhuan (越无欢)

Novel Translations (Carrd): English, Indonesian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Burmese

CW: abuse to a main character, rape/sexual assault as a plot point (YWH was a sex slave), torture, suicide, depression, child abuse, PTSD, slavery/human trafficking

Description: Song Qingshi is a medical student who transmigrates into , an “angsty danmei novel” (submitter), to save the tragic protagonist. However, he mistakes the cannon fodder villain Yue Wuhuan for the protagonist and saves him instead.

Nan Chan

Author: Tang Jiuqing / 唐酒卿

Other Names: Nam Thiền, Nán Chán, หนานฉาน, 南禅

Media Type: Web noel, Drama CD

Main Pairing: Cang Ji x Jing Lin

Chapters: 126 Chapters + 3 Extras (Completely Translated)

CW: age difference, death, amnesia, child abuse, demons, date-rape/noncon between the MC and love interests, torture of a main character and side characters, ghosts, death, explicit sexual content (ch.111 + implied sex), child/sex trafficking, sexual abuse, implied pedophilia

Links: Carrd, Novel Updates

Description: Cang Ji is a brocade carp taken care of by Jing Lin, an exiled and amnesiac Immortal who killed his adoptive father, the Emperor of Heaven. When Jing Lin loses his copper bell, he and Cang Ji leave their mountain to find it, encountering the Eight Sufferings and learning more about their past.

“There’s a man I love. In the clouds. In the sea. In my heart.”

“Have you ever wondered? If the one to be devoured in the end would be you or me?” / “It doesn’t matter if I”m the one. As long as I’m together with you.”

The Earth is Online

Author: Mo Chen Huan (莫晨欢)

Other Names: 地球上线, Dìqiú shàngxiàn, EO, TEIO, Địa Cầu Online

ฝ่าวิกฤตพิชิตหอคอยดำ, 地球上線

Media Type: Web Novel, Drama CD

Main Pairing: Tang Mo x Fu Wendou

Links: Carrd (CW: glitch effect, flashing lights), Novel Updates, English Translation on Tea Novel

CW: death, child/infant death, gore + more unknown

Description: Six months after black towers appear around cities, a voice announces, “Ding dong! November 15th, 2017. The earth is online.” Players are encouraged to “attack the tower” during “game time”. Once pulled into a game, it must be completed, and the losing party seems to die.

“the Joongdok of danmei”

Short Story of Shaowang

Other Names: Shh! My Dear Alpha, 少汪几句

Media Type: Web novel, Drama CD, Manhua

Author: Little Ice Cube / 冰块儿

Chapters: 58 Chapters + 12 Extras (Completely Translated)

Links: Novel Updates, English Translation by Tailor’s MTL

CW: rape/noncon between the MC and love interest (later discussion about consent), graphic sexual content, omegaverse, mpreg + more unknown

Description: Jiang ShaoYan is the school tyrant and also an omega. While his heat is approaching, an underclassman suddenly confesses to him.

Sequel: Pay Attention to Me

You’ve Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale

Author: Hei Dan Bai / 黑蛋白

Other Names: YGMCT, คบสหายผ่านพิราบต้องพึงระวัง, 飛鴿交友須謹慎, 飞鸽交友须谨慎

Media Type: Web novel

Chapters: 106 Chapters

CW: age difference, rape/noncon between MC and love interest, graphic sexual content, suicidal idealisation + more unknown

Links: Novel Updates

Description: A 39-year-old gay bachelor in the Great Xia Dynasty, feeling his life is hopeless, resolves to get laid before committing suicide on his fortieth birthday. To do so, Wu Xingzi joins the Peng Society for Gentlemen, a secret organization for gay men to meet other gay men. (Based on Novel Updates Summary)

Where is Our Agreement to be Arch-Rivals?

Other Names: Did We Agree To Be Rivals?, Nói tốt trở thành lẫn nhau túc địch đâu [Xuyên thư], The Modified Script is Killing Me, 說好成為彼此的宿敵呢[穿書], 说好成为彼此的宿敌呢[穿书]

Media Type: Web novel

Chapters: 120 Chapters + 2 Extras (Completely Translated)

Main Pairing: Su Yang x Gu Feidi

Links: Novel Updates, English Translation by Peach Blossom Codex

CW: child abuse (the original Su Yang is implied to have had sex with/been interested in minors), sexual abuse, suicidal idealisation/attempts, violence, illness + more

Description: “The web celebrity, Chen Suyang, transmigrated into a film adaptation he’d just finished rolling the death scene. Now he has to play the villain—the Evil Sect’s young master, Su Yang. To return to his own world, he faithfully acted according to the script and solemnly recited his lines—waiting for the day he’d die under the protagonist’s sword. But… why were the scenes getting farther and farther from the script?” (Novel Updates)

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randomshenaniganery · 11 months ago

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TGCF Donghua

okay so I've been watching this shit since it was released and I'm fully enjoying waiting for the weekly episodes and I wanna rant about it because I love it so much but I do have some minor gripes

Bad chuchu out of the way first

I am not happy with how generic and unoriginal the designs for most of the supporting characters. Like yeah they still look somewhat different but when the pool of named characters will expand it will get harder and harder to tell people apart if they keep on going with this route. Almost everyone suffers from same face syndrome which I know is rampant in current anime I just wished they allowed for at least more dynamic silhouettes, hairstyles, and color palettes. It feels like a more toned down version of the character design in the manhua. Lang Qianqiu in the manhua is so easy to recognize because of his outfit and pei ming looks more like the bastard he is etc. Don't get me started on the design for Kemo, the manhua felt eh I feel like Kemo was too pretty and too slim but in the donghua its just he's a straight up orc idk, i feel like they could've done better. Pei Su looks very generic, I think out of everyone he's the most generic looking of them all. SQX, Ling Wen and Jun Wu are the best designs for the supporting cast and I think Banyue is also okay looking cause you can tell her apart from the rest so far.

I am super disappointed in Qi Rong's reveal because it doesn't feel as impactful in the book. In the book the reveal of him looking like Xie Lian was so dramatic to me I was like oh my god is that his brother? A twin? a doppelganger? And then Qi Rong just kinda looks like that, tbh his voice actor and his clothes are fine I think they fit. It's just weird how he suffers from same face syndrome. If they made everyone look less like each other making Qi Rong look like Xie Lian would have been so impactful and a really cool cliffhanger but they couldn't do that because even fucking Lang Qianqiu kinda looks like Xie Lian with lighter hair. Also the Fang xin design is alright on the clothes but the mask gives off a bit cheap however I get that it can't be super detailed and it still does its job so I can handwave that small pet peeve.

Also censorship we couldn't get Xie Lian falling on Hua Cheng's lap and so them trying to make up for that was super awkward LMAO, they could have solved this by making SQX fall right on Hua Cheng's chair so that they could justify why Xie Lian grabbed Hua Cheng and throws him but they didn't... and it's so awkward...

I think it was like Episode 2 of s2 that the animation feels weird, Mu Qing's face felt off to me idk what was going on it just felt like something went down but the next episode it was perfectly fine anyway.

Positives!!!

Something the manhua didn't have was Fu Yao and Nan Feng looking a bit like each other, that was so fucking funny and it's a great display of how much they hate each other and live rent free in each other's heads ong. I love that detail the donghua did I think that's smart.

The voice actors are so great in both dubs they're doing amazing (I haven't listened to the jp dub) I have no complaints I love their work

ONE of my favorite things about the donghua is being able to see Hua Cheng's expressions even when Xie Lian is doing something in the book so he wouldn't notice. I love seeing how pleased he is every time someone points out the intimacy with him and Xie Lian. Like in season 1 when Fu Yao is shocked/horrified that Xie Lian shared a bed with Hua Cheng, San Lang puts a hand on his chin and looks so fucking smug and happy. This happens a couple times in s2 as well someone will be like oh that's weird you're so like this with Hua Cheng and he becomes a smug cat it's great.

Another one I enjoy is during the beginning of the banyue arc when Xie Lian reveals to Fu Yao and Nan Feng that he's used to sleeping in squalor the camera goes to Nan Feng not revealing his face but clearly showing his guilt over what Xie Lian reveals. That's good shit.

Lan Chang picking a fight off screen, also cool, love seeing her. I like that she looks inconspicuous so for someone who doesn't know shit about tgcf they will not see *that* shit coming.

ALSO the men look kinda generic if they're not the mls but the girls are all gorgeous???? like the woman who was Hua Cheng's speaker, the girl who led Xie Lian further into the gambling den, XUAN JI, Banyue all the girls are unique without being so ostentatious and I love them. If you put them beside each other they all look like they're own thing but still on theme. From clothes, to hairstyle and colors it's easy to tell and that's good design. I also include SQX's female form cause she's gorgeous too.

The donghua I think adds to stuff I haven't read I'm not sure if this is because I have a bad memory but I don't recall reading a flashback of Lang Qianqiu and the failed robbery. But the message of that entire section was so fucking good. The way that what Lang Qianqiu said about 'maybe he shouldn't have intervened' and the sound effects UGh. It's so good, i love how the book tackles the morality of everything, breaking down Lang Qianqiu's firm positivity and believing in humanity but still promoting being kind and considerate through Xie Lian. This theme still carries on in the show and I think they're doing a great job.

GOD THE MUSIC in the donghua is so fucking good, I love it. The songs, the meanings, the beat it's all perfect I can't say anything more.

even though i'm disappointed in the character design choices the donghua is very solid, I love it a lot. It does come off as very expositiony sometimes but I think that's very prevalent in Chinese Wuxia and Xianxia. Probably weird for people who aren't used to the genre but to anyone who's seen something like it, it's not unbearable and it's kinda necessary because of how the book is written. Waiting for wednesday patiently whilst i draw huahua

There are so many fun details the Donghua adds that shows that they know the story and where it's going as well hinting at character stuff, it's so fun to spot those. Like Xie Lian's reaction to Hua Cheng biting the bun made me wanna claw my face that shit was good af.

#just many thoughts of how much i love the series #tian guan ci fu #tgcf #heaven official's blessing #mxtx #donghua #tgcf donghua #hua cheng #xie lian

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